Etfe 


of 
Cookman 


iScb. 


"fle  ivas  not  Pauline,  but  he  tuas  Johanine.  He 
•was  the  brother  of  John.  He  leaned  upon  his  Mas- 
ter's breast,  from  'whom  he  drew  his  inspiration." 
—"Bishop  R.  S.  Foster,  at  the  funeral  of  Alfred 
Cookman. 


CINCINNATI:    JENNINGS  &   PYE 
NEW  YORK     EATON  &  MAINS 


COPYRIGHT,    1900, 
BY  J.   W.    HAMILTON 


PREFACE. 


\I7E  have  been  induced  to  prepare 
this  brief  life  of  our  esteemed 
friend  and  brother,  Alfred  Cookman,  to 
meet  a  long-felt  need;  viz.,  a  compre- 
hensive account  of  this  holy  man, 
adapted  to  the  great  mass  of  the  Church 
whom  he  loved,  and  who  love  and  re- 
vere his  memory.  The  late  Dr.  H.  B. 
Ridgaway,  some  years  ago,  wrote  a  most 
exhaustive  life  of  this  good  man,  which 
was,  in  all  respects,  worthy  of  the 
scholarly  author.  It  was  a  book  of 
nearly  500  pages,  published  by  the  Har- 
pers, and  sold  at  $2  per  copy.  It  seemed 
to  have  failed  in  two  particulars  :  It  was 
too  ^expensive  for  people  of  moderate 
means,  and  too  bulky  and  exhaustive 
3- 


Preface, 

for  busy  people,  who  have  little  leisure 
for  reading. 

The  present  volume  seeks  to  avoid 
these  extremes.  We  have  sought  to 
present  in  a  condensed  form  all  that  is 
essential  to  a  proper  understanding  and 
appreciation  of  the  character  of  this 
saintly  man. 

We  are  indebted  to  the  Messrs.  Har- 
pers for  permission  to  use  a  few  selec- 
tions from  the  aforesaid  Life,  as  the 
work  has  for  some  time  been  out  of 
print. 

People  of  small-  means,  equally  with 
those  of  abundance,  will  find  this  Life 
of  Alfred  Cookman,  small  as  it  is,  an 
inspiration  to  holy  living,  and  a  bless- 
ing which  will  cheer  and  help  them  in 
the  struggles  and  conflicts  of  life. 

In  view*  of  Mr.  Cookman's  deep,  life- 
long interest  in  the  colored  race,  we 
have  arranged  that  the  entire  profits 
4 


Preface. 

.  from  the  sale  of  this  work  shall  be  de- 
voted to  the  benefit  of  the  Freedmen's 
Aid  and  Southern  Education  Society 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Our  fervent  prayer  is  that  the  spirit 
of  Alfred  Cookman  may  possess  all  the 
workers  in  this  field,  as  well  as  the  peo- 
ple for  whom  they  labor.  This  will 
fully  compensate  the  writer  for  any  labor 
he  has '  performed,  and  will  fully  meet 
the  wishes  of  Mrs.  Cookman  and  her 
children. 

5 


INTRODUCTION. 


'"THE   vision   of  John   Fletcher's  face 
*     often    sent    conviction   to    the    sin- 
ner's   heart.       Edward    Perronet,    who 
wrote  the  immortal  hymn, 

"All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name, 
Let  angels  prostrate  fall," 

had  a  brother,  William,  who  testified 
that  the  first  sight  of  Fletcher's  face  so 
impressed  him  that  he  never  got  over 
it  till  he  gave  his  heart  to  God. 

Dr.  Daniel  Devinne,  once  a  missionary 
in  the  then  remote  wilds  of  Louisiana, 
wrote  Dr.  Abel  Stevens,  the  historian  of 
Methodism,  that  on  his  circuit  he  found 
a  settler  who  had  been  reproved  by 
Fletcher  of  Madeley  for  profanity.  He 
was  struck  dumb  by  the  look  of  the 
vicar,  and  though  afterwards  he  went 
to  sea  and  forgot  the  words  of  rebuke 
7 


Introduction. 

and  was  recklessly  wicked,  that  look 
never  escaped  his  mind.  It  followed 
him  everywhere,  into  whatever  part  of 
the  world  he  went,  and  annoyed  him  in 
all  his  sins.  On  penetrating  into  Loui- 
siana, and  hearing  the  Methodist  itiner- 
ant— fifty  years  later — the  remembered 
"look"  overpowered  him.  No  longer 
resisting  the  impression  which  had  fol- 
lowed him  the  world  over,  he  yielded, 
obtained  pardon,  lived  a  holy  life,  and 
soon  after  died  in  great  peace. 

The  Church  of  God  has  always  had 
such  "solar-light"  believers.  Isaiah 
speaks  of  them  when  he  says,  "All  that  see 
them  shall  acknowledge  them,  that  they 
are  the  seed  which  the  L,ord  hath  blessed." 

Such  a  face  had  Alfred  Cookman. 
Who  that  ever  saw  it  can  forget  it? 
The  vision  of  it  has  sent  conviction  to 
many  a  sinner's  heart.  "  The  beauty  of 
holiness"  was  there. 

As  he  moved  among  us,  and  preached 
to  us  the  Word  of  I/ife,  thousands  were 
moved  to  seek  and  find  the  "  full  salva- 
8 


Introduction. 

tion,"    to    the    possible    attainment    of 
which  he  bore  such  glorious  witness. 

There  are  some  expressions  of  Scrip- 
ture which  must  seem  like  poetic  exag- 
gerations to  an  unspiritual  mind;  such 
as,  "  The  peace  of  God  which  passeth  all 
understanding;"  "Joy  unspeakable  and 
full  of  glory;"  "A  weight  of  glory;" 
but  when  these  expressions  are  inter, 
preted  in  the  light  of  such  an  experi* 
ence  as  that  of  Alfred  Cookman,  they 
seem  exactly  fitted  to  describe  it. 

Words  less  intense  would  not  suit 
the  case  at  all.  When  his  countenance 
was  in  repose,  you  would  think  of  the 
''peace  that  passeth  all  understanding;" 
when  preaching  the  Word,  and  brea^ 
ing  the  bread  of  life  to  the  people,  you 
would  think  of  the  "joy  unutterable;" 
and  when,  in  answer  to  his  prayer,  the 
Holy  Ghost  fell  upon  the  congregation, 
you  would  think  of  and  feel  "the 
weight  of  glory." 

The  holiness  which  Alfred  Cookman 
professed  and  possessed  is  what  the 

9 


Introduction, 

Church  needs  to-day — beyond  all  words 
to  tell. 

Many  well-meaning  people  who  pro- 
fess this  blessing  are  "  troublers  of 
Israel,"  by  their  egotism,  by  their  cen- 
sorious spirit,  by  their  habit  of  finding 
fault  with  those  who  do  not  accept 
their  teachings.  There  was  nothing  of 
this  about  Alfred  Cookman.  He  was 
brilliant  and  effective  in  controversy, 
but  always  kind. 

It  is  said  of  Fletcher's  controversial 
writings :  "  They  were  severe  only  in  the 
keenness  of  their  arguments."  "  They 
can  be  read  by  devout  men  even  as  aids 
to  devotion."  It  was  so  with  the  ser- 
mons and  writings  of  Alfred  Cookman. 
No  severe  criticism  ever  fell  from  his 
lips.  He  drank  in  the  very  spirit  of  a 
little  verse  Bishop  Capers  once  wrote 
in  a  lady's  album — 

"Let  me  be  tender  when  I  touch 

The  meanest  name  to  Jesus  dear, 
Lest  my  rude  hand  inflict  a  wound 
Where  Jesus'  mercy  drops  a  tear." 


Introduction. 

He  never  believed  in  the  denunciatory 
method  of  getting  people  to  see  the 
truth. 

He  believed  in  the  possibility  of  a 
victorious  life  in  this  world,  and  that 
is  the  most  glorious  dream "  that  ever 
floated  before  a  human  soul.  He  sought 
with  all  his  might  to  lead  the  Church 
he  loved  into  this  blessed  experience. 
He  was  cheering  on  the  Sacramental 
Host  when  the  messenger  came  to  sum- 
mon him  home  to  heaven.  When,  as 
we  thought,  we  needed  him  most,  he 
disappeared  from  our  sight  for  a  little 
while. 

Dr.  William  McDonald  has  written 
the  story  of  his  life,  and  in  doing  this 
he  has  done  the  Church  a  great  service. 
This  little  book  should  be  universally 
read.  Pastors  who  desire  to  kindle  in 
their  congregations  a  flame  of  revival, 
should  circulate  this  book  freely  among 
the  people.  It  teaches  the  "  conquering 
theology "  that  never  grows  old — that 
never  can  be  supplanted ;  the  theology 


Introduction. 

which  is  interwoven  with  the  promisevS 
and  prayers  and  prophecies  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures  so  thoroughly  that  nothing 
but  the  utter  destruction  of  almost 
every  page  of  the  book  itself  will  get  it 
out  of  the  Church  and  out  of  the  world. 
It  is  the  theology  of  Paul,  and  Wesley, 
and  Asbury.  "  By  this  sign  conquer." 
Preach  it,  live  it,  and  we  shall  see  what 
John  Fletcher  spoke  of  as  that  "  glori- 
ous wonder,"  A  PENTECOSTAL  CHURCH 

ON  EARTH. 

CHARLES  C.  McCABE. 

12 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I.  PAGE 

PARENTAGE  AND  CHILDHOOD,       ....       15 

CHAPTER  II. 
SHADOWS  AND  HOME  DESOLATION,    -      -      -      28 

CHAPTER  III. 
THE  MOTHER  OF  ALFRED  COOKMAN,      -  37 

CHAPTER  IV. 
THE  MANLY  YOUTH  AND  FAMILY  COUNSELOR,    49 

CHAPTER  V. 
THE  GREAT  SALVATION  EXPERIENCED,    -      -      60 

CHAPTER  VI. 
NATURAL  GRACES  AND  HOLY  LIFE,  73 

CHAPTER  VII. 

ARDENT  LOVE  FOR  AMERICAN  BONDMEN,      -      89 
13 


Contents. 

CHAPTER  VIIL  PAGE 

ALFRED  COOKMAN,  A  MODEL  FAMILY  MAN,      103 

CHAPTER  IX. 

A  LOVING  LEADER  OF  THE  NATIONAL  HOLI- 
NESS MOVEMENT,    -  -      -      -     119 

CHAPTER  X. 

THE  NATIONAL   HOLINESS  MOVEMENT. — CON- 
TINUED,    i  -      -     140 

CHAPTER  XI. 
THE    SUCCESSFUL    PASTOR    AND    PERSUASIVE 

PREACHER,  -      -     160 

CHAPTER  XII. 
PASTOR  AND  PREACHER. — CONTINUED,     -      -     183 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

FINAL   TRIUMPH:    SWEEPING   THROUGH    THE 

GATES, 208 

14 


LIFE  SKETCHES 

OF 

REV.  ALFRED  COOKMAN. 


CHAPTER  I. 
PARENTAGE  AND  CHILDHOOD. 


men  have  been  called  from  the 
Church  Militant  who  have  left  a 
more  widely-extended  and  hallowed  in- 
fluence than  Alfred  Cookman.  His 
dying  words  have  been  an  inspiration 
to  the  Universal  Church  in  all  lands, 
and  this  influence  must  continue  to  be 
felt  as  the  years  go  by. 

"He   belonged   to   seraphic   royalty," 

said  Bishop  Foster,  in  an  address  de- 

livered at  his  funeral.    "I  have  known," 

he    continued,    "the    Church    for    thirty 

15 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookmao. 

years ;  I  have  known  the  men  of  the 
Church  during  that  time  through  all  her 
ministry;  and  the  most  sacred  man  I 
have  known"  (looking  down  into  the 
casket  before  him)  "is  he  who  is  en- 
shrined in  that  casket."  The  following 
pages  contain  a  brief  memoir  of  this 
saintly  man. 

Alfred  Cookman  was  born  in  Colum- 
bia, Pennsylvania,  a,  town  on  the  Sus- 
quehanna  River,  January  4,  1828.  His 
father,  Rev.  George  G.  Cookman,  was 
an  Englishman  by  birth,  born  in  Hull, 
England,  in  1800.  His  father  was  a 
local  preacher  among  the  Wesleyan 
Methodists,  and,  being  a  man  of  wealth, 
his  son  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  a  care- 
ful academical  education,  as  well  as  a 
thorough  religious  training.  He  early 
developed  a  rare  ability  for  public  speak- 
ing, especially  at  Sunday-school  anni- 
versaries and  similar  meetings. 

When  but  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
George  G.  Cookman  made  a  business 
trip  to  America  in  the  interests  of  his 
16 


Parentage  and  Childhood. 

father,  and  while  here  conceived  a  strong 
liking  for  the  people  and  country.  On 
his  return  to  England,  he  devoted  him- 
self to  business,  in  company  with  his 
father,  and  for  some  four  years  he  could 
be  said  to  be  "diligent  in  business,  fer- 
vent in  spirit,  serving  the  Lord."  He 
finally  was  fully  persuaded  that  it  was 
his  duty  to  preach  the  gospel,  and,  act- 
ing upon  that  decision,  made  some  ^suc- 
cessful attempts.  His  father  finally  con- 
sented to  release  him,  and,  his  mother 
concurring,  he  started  again  for  America, 
in  1825.  He  was  cordially  received  by 
the*  brethren  in  Philadelphia,  and  at  the 
ensuing  Annual  Conference,  he  was  re- 
ceived on  probation,  and  stationed  at 
Kensington.  He  was  soon  recognized 
as  a  man  of  extraordinary  pulpit  power. 
In  1827  he  made  a  brief  visit  to  Eng- 
land, and  while  there  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Barton,  of  Doncaster,  York- 
shire, April  2d.  With  his  new  helpmate, 
in  all  respects  suited  to  aid  him  in  his 
great  work,  he  returned,  without  delay, 
2  17 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

to  his  field  of  labor  in  America.  George 
G.  Cookman  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life  in  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  Mary- 
land, and  the  District  of  Columbia.  Few 
ministers,  if  any,  have  ever  labored  in 
this  country  with  more  ceaseless  en- 
ergy, unswerving  devotion  to  God,  and 
marked  success  in  •every  field  in  which 
he  was  called  to  labor. 

iS^>  man  in  American  Methodism — 
John  Summerfield,  perhaps,  excepted — 
in  the  brief  period  in  which  he  was  per- 
mitted to  labor,  ever  produced  a  more 
profound  impression.  He  enjoyed  a 
national  reputation  as  the  most  brilliant 
and  effective  preacher  in  America.  His 
unrivaled  eloquence  attracted  all  classes, 
from  the  highest  officials  of  the  nation 
to  the  humblest  m  society.  When  he 
spoke,  in  the  pulpit  or  from  the  plat- 
form, it  seemed  that  every  nerve  and 
muscle  of  his  frame  was  full  of  excite- 
ment, and  clearly  indicated  that  his  lips 
had  been  touched  with  a  live  coal  from 
off  God's  altar,  and  his  one  aim  seemed 
is 


Parentage  and  Childhood. 

to  be,  not  to  produce  an  effect,  but  to 
win  men  to  God. 

In  1839  he  was  elected  chaplain  to 
the  American  Congress.  Here,  perhaps, 
his  influence  as  a  preacher  was  most 
widely  felt.  Great  men  bowed  under 
his  eloquent  appeals,  as  forests  are 
swayed  by  the  tempest.  He  had  the 
reputation  of  being  a  man  of  deep  re- 
ligious devotion  and  of  employing  all 
of  his  great  powers  in  winning  men, 
not  to  himself,  but  to  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  This  seemed  to  be  his  sole  aim. 

When  he  had  completed  his  chaplaincy 
in  Congress,  in  1841,  he  arranged  to 
visit  England,  mainly  to  see  again  his 
aged  father,  his  mother  having  already 
passed  to  her  reward.  He  sailed  from 
New  York,  March  nth,  on  the  ill-fated 
steamship  President.  Neither  the  ship 
nor  any  of  her  company  were  ever  after 
heard  of.  She  may  have  foundered  in 
a  violent  storm  at  sea,  no  one  of  the 
company  escaping  to  tell  the  story  of 
their  end. 

19 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

Thus  ended  suddenly,  and  to  the  great 
grief  of  his  young  family  and  numerous 
friends  and  admirers,  the  life  of  the  father 
of  Alfred  Cookman. 

Alfred  bore  the  name  of  his  honored 
uncle,  but  recently  deceased,  who,  it 
seems,  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary 
intellectual  ability  and  moral  excellence. 

The  grandfather,  on  learning  of  his 
son's  first-born,  writes  from  Hull:  "We 
were  delighted  to  find  the  name  Alfred 
should  not  become  extinct  in  our  family. 
May  he  exhibit  a  large  share  of  his 
uncle's  intellectual  and  moral  character, 
and  may  his  mental  powers  in  due  time 
become  as  vigorous  as  his  person  is 
likely. to  be  robust!  May  you  receive 
him  as  a  gift  of  God,  and  while  you 
gratefully  acknowledge  his  supporting 
and  sustaining  hand,  may  you  and  the 
child  be  entirely  consecrated  to  him !" 
This  prayer  was  answered,  at  least  so 
far  as  Alfred  was  concerned ;  for  he  was 
a  man,  like  Stephen,  "full  of  faith  and 
the  Holy  Ghost."  The  mother  felt  for 

20 


Parentage  and  Childhood. 

a  time  that  the  gift  of  a  son,  however 
precious,  was  likely  to  abridge  her  fan- 
cied opportunities  for  such  religious 
work  as  both  she  and  her  husband  had 
hoped  to  do.  But  she  subsequently 
learned,  to  her  great  joy,  that  to  rear 
a  Moses,  who  should  lead  God's  people 
into 

"  The  land  of  rest  from  inbred  sin, 
The  land  of  perfect  holiness," 

was  a  work  as  divinely  appointed  and 
as  highly  honored  as  the  preaching  of 
the  gospel  by  any  other  method. 

When  about  four  years  of  age,  his 
father  traveled  the  Talbot  Circuit,  on 
the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland.  This 
was  in  the  days  of  American  slavery. 
It  was  on  this  circuit  that  Alfred  had 
his  first  view  of  American  slavery,  but 
in  its  mildest  forms.  It  was  here  he 
became  most  interested  in  slave  children. 
He  is  said,  at  this  early  age,  to  have 
held  religious  services  among  them,  and 
even  went  so  far  as  to  imitate  the  ordi- 
21 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

nance  of  baptism.  He  would  call  for  a 
bowl  of  water,  cause  them  to  kneel 
down,  and  then  proceed  to  say:  "Bob 
Trot,  I  baptize  you  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.  God  bless  you  and  make  you 
a  good  boy !"  This  was  not  done  in 
boyish  sport,  as  one  might  suppose,  but 
with  great  apparent  seriousness,  as  often 
occurs  with  children  who  have  been  re- 
ligiously trained  or  have  witnessed  fre- 
quently such  ceremonies.  His  mother 
was  ever  watching  for  every  religious 
manifestation  which  looked  toward  the 
ministry ;  for  her  desire  was  quenchless 
that  he  might  yet  be  a  successful  min- 
ister of  the  gospel.  She  hailed  every 
such  indication  as  evidence  that  God 
was  preparing  him  for  his  future 
work. 

During  these  years  Alfred,  according 
to  his  mother's  statement,  was  correct 
in  his  deportment,  truthful,  and  very 
conscientious.  His  father  is  said  to  have 
impressed  upon  his  youthful  mind  the 
22 


Parentage  and  Childhood. 

maxim,  "Play  when  you  play,  and  work 
when  you  work." 

From  his  fifth  to  his  seventh  year, 
while  his  father  was  pastor  of  St. 
George's  Church,  in  Philadelphia,  Alfred 
and  his  brother  George  were  placed 
under  the  care  of  Miss  Ann  Thomas, 
/a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
and  under  her  careful  instruction  im- 
proved rapidly  in  the  elementary 
branches  of  education.  None  regretted 
more  deeply  their  departure  from  the 
school  than  their  Quaker  teacher.  In 
writing  to  their  mother,  she  says :  "I 
can  give  my  testimony  respecting  thy 
dear  boys,  that  I  have  enjoyed  great 
consolation  in  their  company.  While 
endeavoring  to  inform  their  little  minds 
and  give  them  a  knowledge  of  literature, 
they  have  been  attentive  and  obedient, 
very  innocent,  and  strict  to  truth,  and 
in  almost  everything  what  my  heart 
could  wish.  Tell  them  to  remember 
Miss  Ann,  who  dearly  loves  them,  and 
wishes  them  everlasting  happiness." 
23 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

When  seven  years  of  age,  his  father 
was  stationed  in  the  city  of  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  and  under  his  marvelously 
effective  ministry  Alfred  became  deeply 
awakened.  He  persuaded  his  parents  to 
allow  him  to  attend  a  watch-night  serv- 
ice, held  in  the  old  Exeter  Street  Church. 
His  father  preached  on  the  occasion. 
His  subject  was  "The  Second  Coming 
of  Christ."  In  his  own  language,  Alfred 
says:  "Thinking  that  the  end  of  the 
world  was  just  at  hand,  I  realized,  for 
the  first  time,  my  unpreparedness  for 
the  trying  scenes  of  the  judgment,  and 
trembled  in  prospect.  I  date  my  awak- 
ening from  this  time."  His  father  was 
soon  removed  from  Baltimore  to  Car- 
lisle, Pennsylvania,  to  meet  a  pressing 
demand  of  the  Church. 

The  Baltimore  and  Philadelphia  Con- 
ferences had  recently  purchased  of  the 
Presbyterians  Dickinson  College,  and 
there  seeme'd  no  other  man  so  well 
adapted  to  be  stationed  in  that  town  as 
Mr.  Cookman.  They  needed  a  man  of 
24 


Parentage  and  Childhood. 

marked  pulpit  power,  as  well  as  deep 
devotion.  The  Faculty  of  the  college 
consisted  of  John  P.  Durbin,  Robert 
Emory,  H.  W.  Allen,  John  McClintock, 
and  A.  A.  Roszel.  These  men,  fresh  in 
their  young  manhood,  and  with  George 
G.  Cookman  as  their  spiritual  leader, 
were  a  company  scarcely  equaled  in  the 
land.  Alfred  was  now  only  ten  years 
of  age,  but  old  enough  to  be  profoundly 
impressed  with  his  peculiar  surround- 
ings. Here  he  entered  the  grammar 
school  with  his  brother  George,  and  from 
what  we  can  learn  he  was,  in  his  own 
judgment,  pressed  in  his  studies  almost 
beyond  measure,  or  at  least  much  be- 
yond what  he  thought  needful,  and  in 
this  respect  was  much  like  other  boys 
of  his  age. 

It  was  at  Carlisle,  in  the  month  of 
February,  1838,  that  Alfred  Cookman 
was  converted.  A  protracted  meeting 
was  being  held,  and  he  says :  "I  con- 
cluded 'now  i's  the  accepted  time;  now 
is  the  day  of  salvation.'  One  night, 
25 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cockman. 

when  a  social  meeting'  was  held  in  the 
house  of  a  friend,  I  struggled  with  my 
feelings,  and,  although  it  was  a  fearful 
cross,  I  urged  my  way  to  a  bench  which 
was  specially  appropriated  for  penitents. 
My  heart  was  convulsed  with  peniten- 
tial sorrow;  tears  streaming  down  my 
cheeks,  I  said,  'Jesus,  Jesus,  I  give  my- 
self away ;  't  is  all  that  I  can  do.'  For 
some  hours  I  sought,  without,  however, 
realizing  the  desire  of  my  heart.  The 
next  evening  I  renewed  the  effort.  The 
evening  after  that  the  service  was  held 
in  the  church ;  the  altar  was  crowded 
with  seekers,  principally  students  from 
Dickinson  College.  There  seemed  to  be 
no  place  for  me,  an  angonizing  child. 
I  remember  I  found  my  way  into  one 
corner  of  the  church.  Kneeling  all 
alone.  I  said,  'Precious  Savior,  thou  art 
saving  others :  O  wilt  thou  not  save 
me?'  As  I  wept,  a  kind  hand  was  laid 
upon  my  head.  I  opened  my  eyes,  and 
found  that  it  was  Mr.  James  Hamilton, 
a  prominent  elder  in  the  Presbyterian 
26 


Parentage  and  Childhood. 

Church  in  Carlisle.  He  had  come  to 
help  me.  I  remember  how  sweetly  he 
unfolded  the  nature  of  faith  and  the  plan 
of  salvation.  I  said,  'I  will  believe,  I 
do  believe,  I  now  believe  that  Jesus  is 
my  Savior ;  that  he  saves  me,  saves ;  yes, 
me,  even  now.'  Immediately, 

"  The  opening  heavens  did  around  me  shine 
With  beams  of  sacred  bliss  ; 

And  Jesus  showed  his  mercy  mine, 
And  whispered,  '  I  am  His.'  " 

"I  love  to  think  of  it  now,"  he  says, 
in  after  years.  "It  fills  my  soul  un- 
utterably full  of  gratitude  and  joy. 
'Happy  day,  O  happy  day,  when  Jesus 
washed  my  sins  away !'  " 

His  conversion  seems  to  have  been 
clear.  The  Spirit  attested  the  work,  and 
Alfred  Cookman  went  on  his  way  re- 
joicing. 

'     27 


CHAPTER  II. 
SHADOWS  AND  HOME  DESOLATION. 

AT  the  close  of  Mr.  George  G.  Cook- 
**  man's  two  years  at  Carlisle,  he  was 
removed  to  the  National  Capital.  Other 
cities  sought  his  services,  but  Wash- 
ington was  successful  in  securing  them. 
Wesley  Chapel  was  the  center  of  Meth- 
odist influence  in  the  city.  Many, 
including  members  of  Congress,  and 
visitors  to  the  city  from  all  denomina- 
tions, were  attracted  by  the  unexampled 
eloquence  of  Mr.  Cookman.  In  1838-39, 
Mr.  Cookman  was  elected  chaplain  of 
the  Senate,  by  a  decided  vote,  over  Rev. 
Henry  Slicer,  D.  D.  There  does  not 
seem  to  have  been  any  special  objection 
to  Dr.  Slicer,  for  he  was  subsequently 
elected  to  the  same  office ;  but  Mr.  Cook- 
man captivated  all  classes,  Whigs  and 
Democrats,  though  he  himself  seems 
28 


Shadows  and  Home  Desolation. 

personally  to  have  had  no  part  in  the 
matter.  He  seemed  equally  at  home 
with  the  men  of  world-wide  fame — the 
Websters,  and  Calhouns,  and  Clays,  and 
Bentons,  etc.,  as  well  as  with  the  school- 
men of  Carlisle.  Strong  men  were 
awakened  to  a  sense  of  their  danger 
under  his  powerful  ministry,  among 
them  Franklin  Pierce,  representative 
from  New  Hampshire.  There  is  little 
doubt  that  Mr.  Pierce  intended  to  unite 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  abandon  politics  for  the  ministry ; 
but  family  influences  turned  him  aside 
from  his  purpose.  He  united  with  the 
Episcopal  Church,  and  died  a  member 
of  that  communion. 

Alfred  Cookman's  removal  to  Wash- 
ington does  not  seem  to  have  been  help- 
ful to  his  piety.  A  change  of  scenery 
and  associations  had  a  tendency  to  turn 
his  thoughts  for  a  time  from  God,  but 
not  from  his  religious  faith.  Writing 
of  this  period,  he  says,  "I  fell  in  with 
new  associates,  who  felt  no  interest  in 
29 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

the  subject  of  religion,  and  declined  a 
little  in  my  warmth  and  zeal,  and  par- 
took a  little  too  much  of  their  spirit." 
But  this  was  of  short  duration.  The 
camp-meeting  season  was  at  hand,  and 
he  expressed  a  desire  to  attend.  On 
leaving  for  the  camp-meeting,  his  mother 
said  to  him,  "My  son,  I  want  you  to 
seek  at  the  meeting  an  entire  restora- 
tion of  your  former  happy  experience, 
and  regain  every  step  you  have  lost  by 
want  of  watchfulness."  He  says :  "Her 
counsel  followed  me  to  the  forest.  I 
sought  God  again.  I  remember  the 
night.  The  struggle  was  long  and  pain- 
ful ;  it  continued  almost  to  the  break- 
ing of  day.  Glory  to  God !  However, 
He  who  said,  'Return  unto  me,  back- 
sliding Israel,  and  I  will  heal  thy  back- 
sliding and  love  thee  freely,'  heard  and 
answered,  and  restored  unto  me  the  joy 
of  his  salvation.  O,  how  beautiful  the 
following  morning  appeared !  The  sky 
seemed  bluer  than  before,  the  air  sweeter, 
the  trees  greener,  the  landscape  lovelier ; 
30 


Shadows  and  Home  Desolation* 

all  nature  seemed  to  appear  in  a  new 
dress.  I  felt  like  saying,  'Come,  all  ye 
who  fear  God,  and  I  will  tell  you  what 
he  has  done  for  my  soul !'  My  precious 
father  had  gone  off  the  ground  to  spend 
the  night.  I  knew  the  way  he  would 
most  probably  return.  I  hastened  in 
that  direction,  saw  him  coming,  sprang 
into  his  arms,  fell  on  his  neck,  and  told 
him  how  happy  I  was.  Since  then  I 
have  had  a  place  in  the  Church  of  Jesus 
Christ.  In  the  midst  of  great  unfaith- 
fulness and  unworthiness,  God  has  borne 
with  and  preserved  me,  and  now  I  feel 
to  say, 

'Here  I  '11  raise  mine  Ebenezer, 
Hither  by  Thy  help  I  'm  come.' 

'I  attribute  my  conversion,  under  God, 
to  the  instruction,  example,  and  influ- 
ence of  pious  parents." 

From  that  time  to  the  end  of  life, 
camp-meetings  were  hallowed  places  to 
Alfred  Cookman.  While  in  Washing- 
ton he  received  many  commendations 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

for  successful  efforts  in  public  speaking, 
in  which  he  seems  to  have  indulged.  It 
could  scarcely  be  otherwise  with  such 
a  mind  as  his,  and  in  the, very  at- 
mosphere of  national  eloquence.  Two 
years  passed  rapidly,  and  his  father, 
still  chaplain  of  the  Senate,  was  removed 
to  Alexandria,  Virginia,  then  a  part  of 
the  District  of  Columbia,  but  since  re- 
ceded to  the  State  of  Virginia. 

Had  Alfred  seen  only  the  milder  forms 
of  slavery,  witnessed  on  the  Eastern 
Shore  of  Maryland,  his  impressions  of  it 
would  have  been  less  abhorrent.  But 
when  he  arrived  at  Alexandria  he  found 
that  near  his  home  was  a  slave-pen, 
where1  human  beings  were  sold  almost 
daily,  and  doomed  to  a  life  of  unpaid 
service  in  the  rice-swamps  and  cotton- 
fields  of  the  South.  Men,  women,  and 
children  he  saw  b'ehind  iron  grates,  and 
manacled,  for  no  crime  save  that  they 
were  born  with  black  skins.  Here  he 
witnessed  scenes  which  ought  to  have 
broken  any  human  heart,  and  did  quite 
32 


Shadows  and  Home  Desolation. 

break  the  heart  of  young  Cookman.  It 
induced  in  him,  from  that  time,  a  deep 
and  lifelong  abhorrence  of  that  system 
of  slavery  which  John  Wesley  pro- 
nounced "the  vilest  that  ever  saw  the 
sun,"  and  he  never  failed  to  give  his 
voice  and  influence  against  it. 

One  year  later,  1841,  his  father's  chap- 
laincy closed,  and  he  arranged  to  visit 
England,  and  thought  at  first  to  take 
Alfred  with  him,  but  subsequently 
changed  his  purpose,  Alfred  saying,  "I 
will  stay  with  my  mother,  and  help 
her  take  care  of  the  children."  His 
father's  fame  was  commensurate  with  the 
American  Republic,  but  that  brilliant  orb 
was  soon  to  set  at  noonday.  Among  his 
last  words  to  his  children,  as  they  sat 
by  the  fireside,  were  these/'Now,  boys, 
if  your  father  sinks  in  the  ocean,  his 
soul  will  go  direct  to  God,  and  you  will 
meet  him  in  heaven."  He  preached  his 
last  sermon  in  the  Vestry  Street  Meth- 
odist Church,  New  York  City,  Monday, 
March  Qth,  where  he  was  to  be  stationed 
3  33 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

on  his  return.  He  had  intended  to  take 
a  Cunard  steamer  from  Boston,  but  was 
induced  to  change  his  mind,  and  em- 
barked on  board  the  steamship  President, 
March  nth,  and,  as  we  have  before  said, 
neither  steamer  nor  passengers  were  ever 
after  heard  from.  No  voice  from  the 
sea  ever  came  to  tell  the  story  of  their 
end.  There  were  many  conjectures,  but 
no  facts  upon  which  to  base  them.  Both 
sides  of  the  Atlantic  felt  deeply  the  ter- 
rible shock.  The  sorrow  which  fell  upon 
the  Cookman  home  can  be  better  imag- 
ined than  described.  Day  after  day,  and 
week  after  week,  the  suspense  was  heart- 
rending. Mrs.  Cookman  could  not  give 
up  hope,  but  as  time  passed  on  and  no 
tidings  from  the  sea  came,  it  was  hope 
against  hope.  Alfred  was  the  eldest  of 
a  family  of  six,  and  they  looked  to  him 
for  consolation.  The  mother  was  in  the 
agonies  of  despair.  It  seemed  at  times 
as  though  her  mind  could  not  stand  the 
fearful  pressure.  Hopes  so  bright,  pros- 
34 


Shadows  and  Home  Desolation. 

pects  of  usefulness  and  domestic  bliss 
so  inspiring  to  her  enthusiastic  heart, 
to  be  blighted"  in  a  day,  and  a  darkness 
that  could  be  more  than  felt  succeed 
so  suddenly,  seemed  utterly  unbearable. 
The  deepest  gloom  seemed  to  rest  upon 
her  for  at  least  two  years.  She  could 
not  endure  to  hear  her  husband's  name 
pronounced  in  her  presence  without  the 
deepest  sorrow,  so  that  it  was  carefully 
avoided.  Alfred  was  but  thirteen  years 
of  age,  but  his  composure  in  the  presence 
of  his  afflicted,  heartbroken  mother  was 
remarkable  for  one  of  his  years.  He  used 
to  say  in  after  years,  "How  I  did  dread 
to  return  home  from  the  post-office  to 
meet  my  dear  mother  without  a  letter, 
and  see  her  disappointment!" 

Alfred  Cookman  appears  at  this  time 
a  most  remarkable  youth.  This  great 
sorrow  seems  to  have  developed  the 
latent  force  and  godly  wisdom  of  this 
boy  of  thirteen  years.  He  fully  realized 
his  position,  and  he  faithfully  tried,  as 
35 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

his  mother  avers,  to  "fill  up  the  chasm 
made  by  a  wise  though  inscrutable 
Providence.  Eternity  alone  will  unfold 
all  he  was  to  the  family  as  son  and  as 
brother  in  the  years  of  his  minority." 
36 


CHAPTER  III. 
THE  MOTHER  OF  ALFRED  COOKMAN. 

'"THIS  seems  a  proper  place  to  give 
some  account  of  the  life  and  char- 
acter of  Mrs.  Cookman.  We  have  al- 
ready spoken  of  her  marriage  to  Mr. 
Cookman,  April  2,  1827,  and  her  coming 
to  America,  as  she  supposed,  into  a 
"wilderness,"  to  spend  her  life  in  self- 
sacrifice  and  toil  for  the  perishing. 
Instead  of  great  sacrifice,  she  found  her- 
self associated  with  the  best  society  of 
the  land,  and  her  husband  enjoying  the 
greatest  and  most  widely-extended 
honor  which  a  grateful  nation  could  be- 
stow on  a  messenger  of  God.  All  at 
once  her  highest  'hopes  are  blasted,  and 
deep  sorrow  fills  her  soul.  A  large, 
young,  and  helpless  family  is  left  to  her 
care,  and  her  husband  sleeping  in  the 
37 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

ocean's  deepest  bed.     How  changed  her 
life !    But  God's  ways  are  not  ours — 

"  Sorrow  touched  by  Him  grows  bright 

With  more  than  raptured  ray, 
As  darkness  shows  us  worlds  of  light 
We  never  saw  by  day." 

This  great  sorrow  proved  to  be  a  great 
blessing.  On  the  last  anniversary  of  her 
marriage-day,  she  writes :  "This  is  one 
of  my  very  sacred  anniversary  seasons, 
which  I  cherish  with  deep  and  devout 
gratitude  to  the  Author  and  Giver  of 
all  my  temporal  as  well  as  spiritual  gifts. 
The  second  day  of  April,  1827,  made  me 
one  of  the  happiest,  brightest  individ- 
uals in  the  world.  I  say  it  without  limi- 
tation, that  to  become  the  wife  and 
sharer  of  such  a  man's  life,  with  its 
toils,  cares,  trials,  and  triumphs,  was 
bliss  enough  for  me,  honor  enough  to 
be  his  dearly-beloved  and  cherished 
companion,  with  his  great,'  true,  gener- 
ous heart  beating  and  pulsating  towards 
me  always  and  everywhere. 
38 


The  Mother  of  Alfred  Cookmaru 

"Mary  Barton,  when  she  became  Mary 
Cookman,  reached  the  acme  of  her  high- 
est soaring  of  a  true  and  happy  life. 
Satisfaction  and  joy  met  us  in  every 
path  in  which  we  were  called  to  walk, 
and  our  deep  devotion  knew  no  blight, 
until  the  last  fearful  gaze  was  exchanged, 
until  the  last  fearful  word  was  spoken, 
and  he  who  had  been  all  the  world  to 
me  vanished  from  my  sight.  Little 
thought  I  of  the  sequel  that  was  to 
come,  the  bitterness  and  grief,  such  as 
rarely  falls  to  the  lot  of  humanity,  and 
yet  so  touched  with  mercy,  which  can 
never  be  appreciated  by  human  thought 
and  expressed  by  human  language,  un- 
til we  reach  the  heights  of  the  glory- 
land.  I  have  known  unspeakable  joy, 
I  have  known  the  depths  of  sorrow,  and 
yet  the  heights  and  depths  of  the  love  of 
Christ  are  more  to  me  than  the  love  of 
ten  husbands." 

It  was  in  the  midst  of  this  great  sor- 
row that  she  found  the  great  blessing 
of  entire  sanctification,  which  lifted  her 
39 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

out  of  her  sorrow.  While  she  could  see 
no  justice,  no  mercy,  no  love  in  this 
dispensation  of  Providence,  God  led  her 
to  see  that  a  Father's  hand  and  a 
Father's  loving  heart  were  seeking  her 
greatest  good.  He  had  taken  her  idol 
George,  but  he  had  given  her  himself, 
who  is  the  "Chief  among  ten  thousand, 
and  the  One  altogether  lovely." 

She  came,  with  her  children,  by  the 
aid  of  friends,  to  reside  in  Baltimore, 
near  the  Eutaw  Street  Methodist 
Church.  It  was  in  this  church,  on  the 
holy  Sabbath,  as  she  knelt  at  the  Lord's 
table,  with  a  heart  looking  to  God  for 
comfort,  as  the  Rev.  Nelson  Mead  gave 
her  the  cup,  saying,  "The  blood  of  our 
Lord  and  Savior  Jesus  Christ,  shed  for 
thee"  she  felt  in  a  moment  that  the 
blood  of  Jesus  Christ  did  cleanse  her 
from  all  sin.  A  great,  unspeakable  joy 
came  into  her  heart,  and  'her  will  was 
lost  in  the  Divine  will.  Never  for  a 
moment  thereafter  "did  she  question 
God's  justice,  wisdom,  and  love."  Christ 
40 


The  Mother  of  Alfred  Cookman. 

became  all  in  all  to  her.  Henceforth, 
on  all  fitting  occasions,  she  continued 
to  the  end  of  life  to  give  a  clear,  em- 
phatic testimony  to  the  enjoyment  of 
the  blessing  of  entire  sanctification.  She 
never  'questioned  her  experience  or  the 
power  of  God  to  .save  to  the  uttermost. 
When  Alfred,  in  his  early  ministry, 
would  suggest  doubts  and  difficulties  on 
the  subject,  She  would  reply,  "My  son 
can  never  gainsay  his  mother's  expe- 
rience/' and  prtfSsing  her  hand  to  her 
heart  she  would  say,  "Ah,  Alfred,  I 
know,  I  know."  He  knew  the  great 
sorrow  out  of  which  this  experience  had 
lifted  her.  No  wonder  she  could  say, 
"This  love  of  Christ  is  more  to  me  than 
the  love  of  ten  husbands."  The  deep 
sorrow  through  which  she  passed  pre- 
pared her  for  the  beautiful  ministry  of 
consolation  and  love  to  which  she  was 
soon  called.  She  proved  an  angel  of 
mercy  in  the  homes  of  sorrow  which 
she  visited. 

Mrs.   Cookman  spent  her  last  years 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

with  her  youngest  son,  Rev.  John  E. 
Cookman,  and  her  only  daughter.  "It 
gives  an  ideal  completeness  to  her  life," 
writes  her  son,  "that  God  should  per- 
mit her  in  these  latter  years  to  fulfill  the 
hopes  that  were  the  dream  of  her  girl- 
hood." 

Mrs.  Cookman  attributed  her  success 
in  trailing  her  children  to  three  things : 
"First,  to  the  experience  of'entire  sancti- 
fication ;  second,  to  the  strict  observance 
of  the  Sabbath;  third, *to  the  watchful 
care  over  her  boys  after  nightfall." 
Looking  up  into  his  mother's  face  a 
few  hours  before  his  death,  Alfred  said : 
"Precious  mother,  next  to  the  Lord 
Jesus,  I  owe  everything  to  you.  Your 
influence,  your  example,  your  counsel, 
your  prayers,  have  made  me  what  I  am, 
as  a  man,  a  Christian,  and  a  Christian 
minister."  Such  a  testimony  from  a  dy- 
ing son  to  a  loving  mother  is  golden,  and 
is  worthy  to  hang  about  the  neck  of 
maternal  memory  forever. 

About  a  year  before  her  death,  after 
42 


The  Mother  of  Alfred  Cookman. 

a.  severe  sickness,  she  received  a.  deeper 
baptism  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  she 
gave  herself  and  her  children  to  God  in 
a  renewed  consecration.  She  placed  her 
trembling  hands  vipon  their  heads  and 
implored  for  them  the  grace  which  had 
been  given  her.  From  that  time  she 
lived  as  one  who  had  nothing  to  do 
on  earth  but  work  for  God,  and  wait 
for  his  coming.  It  was  a  year  of  clear 
testimony  to  the  blood  that  cleanseth 
from  all  sin.  To  all  persons,  in  all 
places,  and  at  all  times,  she  testified  to 
the  power  of  Christ  to  save  to  the  utter- 
most. She  would  often  say,  "Claim  all 
your  privileges,  claim  all  your  privileges 
in  Christ."  Her  language  was :  "Life 
or  death,  is  all  the  same  to  me.  I 
am  ready  to  go  when  Jesus  wants 
me." 

Of  her  end,  a  loving  hand  has  penned 
the  following:  "She  had  spent  a  happy 
hour  late  in  the  afternoon  in  the  Church, 
looking  at  preparations  for  an  evening 
entertainment.  She  allowed  herself  to 
43 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

be  drawn  to  the  piano,  and  played  some 
of  the  airs  she  had  learned  in  girlhood. 
She  then  spent  her  hour  before  tea,  as 
usual,  in  meditation  and  reading.  She 
left  her  marker  in  her  Bible  at  Revela- 
tion, twenty-second  chapter,  the  very  end 
of  the  sacred  book.  Her  Bible  and  her 
life  ended  together.  Called  to  the  tea- 
table,  she  had  broken  bread  with  those 
nearest  to  her,  when  her  hands  were 
lifted,  and  she  would  have  fallen,  but 
for  loving  arms  which  caught  her  and 
laid  her  gently  down.  She  immediately 
went  into  a  state  of  unconsciousness,  a 
sweet  sleep ;  no  weariness,  no  distress, 
no  pain.  She  lingered  until  Saturday 
morning,  December  3,  1881,  and  at  early 
dawn  she  went  away.  Without  failure 
of  faculties,  in  the  midst  of  daily  duties, 
without  pain  of  prolonged  suffering, 
without  pangs  of  parting,  in  her  own 
chamber,  amid  tender  and  sacred  affec- 
tion, her  eyes  closed  on  earth  and  opened 
in  heaven."  Thus  lived  and  died  the 
mother  of  Alfred  Cookman.  Her  char- 
44 


The  Mother  of  Alfred  Cbofcman. 

acter  has  been  summed  up  in  the  follow- 
ing beautiful  characteristics: 

"She  was  a  woman  of  marked  intel- 
lectual ability.  Her  letters  were  marvels 
of  strength  and  beauty.  Through  all  her 
life  she  was  accustomed  to  have  a  favor- 
ite book  by  her  side,  and  in  her  very  last 
years  she  was  fully  abreast  of  the  thought 
of  the  times,  and  with  eagerness  and  zest 
read  the  most  recent  and  able  works  of 
the  best  authors.  She  had  a  remarkably 
cheerful  spirit.  After  the  one  great  be- 
reavement, no  other  grief  had  the  power 
to  depress.  She  had  great  capacity  for 
enjoyment.  All  the  good  that  came  she 
took  with  unaffected  thankfulness,  and 
like  good  old  Tzaak  Walton,  as  he  angled 
by  the  streams  of  her  native  land,  she 
could  say,  'In  every  misery  I  miss,  I 
see  a  new  mercy.'  She  laughed  merrily 
at  what  was  mirthful,  and  her  presence 
never  cast  a  damper  on  any  honest  joy. 
Her  magnetic  power  in  attracting  the 
young  was  unusual,  and  surrounded  by 
happy  groups  of  young  people,  she 
45 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

would  seem,  by  her  enthusiasm  and 
pleasure,  to  be  the  youngest  of  them  all. 
What  was  more  striking  was  her  perfect 
naturalness,  especially  in  her  Christian 
life.  She  was  the  embodiment  of  sim- 
plicity and  godly  sincerity.  Her  manners 
were  charming  and  above  affectation, 
yet  she  had  a  dignity  which  was  quick, 
tender,  and  true.  Hers  was,  indeed,  a 
heart  at  leisure  from  itself  to  soothe  and 
sympathize.  While  her  tears  were  ready 
to  flow  at  the  recital  of  a  story  of  misery 
and  woe,  her  hand  was  no  less  quickly 
reached  out  in  healing.  She  loved  not 
in  word  only,  but  in  deed  and  in  truth. 
Her  will  was  heroic,  fearless,  and  mighty, 
and  had  it  been  unsanctified,  would  have 
been  a  power  for  evil ;  but  washed  in  the 
blood  of  the  Lamb,  it  became  the  strong 
and  principled  champion  of  righteous- 
ness. 

"Over  the  natural  virtues  that  strength- 
ened her  character,  and  the  graces  that 
ornamented  it,  was  shed  the  pure  and 
steady  light  of  her  religious  faith.    This, 
46 


The  Mother  of  Alfred  Cookman. 

while  adding  freshness  and  beauty,  so 
unified  all,  that  it  made  her  character  one 
of  wondrous  symmetry."  (Christian  Ad- 
vocate.) 

Is  it  any  wonder  that,  with  such  a 
mother,  Alfred  Cookman  should  have 
been  the  man  he  was  ? 

Rev.  John  E.  Cookman,  youngest  son 
of  this  good  woman,  a  son  greatly  be- 
loved, and  with  whom  she  spent  her  later 
years,  died  March  29,  1891.  He  was  an 
eloquent  and  successful  preacher.  Rev. 
E.  H.  Stokes,  in  a  little  poem,  describes 
him  thus : 

"Spirit  meek,  heart  un defiled, 
Life  as  gentle  as  a  child." 

Some  years  before  his  death  he,  for  some 
cause,  left  the  Methodist,  and  united  with 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  But 
it  d  /?s  not  seem  to  have  affected,  un- 
favorably, his  spirituality.  Some  ex- 
tracts from  a  letter,  written  to  a  sister-in- 
law  a  few  days  before  his  death,  will  give 
the  reader  some  idea  of  the  state  of  his 
47 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

mind.  He  says :  "Why  I  have  been  shut 
away  for  almost  a  year  from  earnest 
Christian  service,  in  saving  men,  and 
shut  up  to  pain  and  distress,  with  daily 
and  hourly  entering  into  the  valley  of  the 
shadow  of  death,  I  know  not.  He  know- 
eth,  and  I  am  content  to  rest  in  his  love. 
There  have  not  only  been  physical  up- 
holdings,  but  marvelous  manifestations 
of  Divine  grace  and  goodness  as  hav*e 
made  my  poor  heart  a  constant  chime  of 
golden  bells  to  His  praise  and  glory. 
Sometimes  great  baptisms  of  power, 
sweetness,  and  love  have  swept  through 
my  soul,  and  I  have  been  unutterably 
filled  with  glory  and  with  God.  The 
sweet  fragrance  has  lingered  like  a  grace 
of  the  skies  for  days  afterwards.  Some- 
times a  strange,  gentle,  then  quiet  peace 
that  passeth  understanding,  has  passed 
over  me.  O  such  ineffable  peace !  O 
how  I  long  with  a  heart-hunger  once 
more  to  stand  in  the  Church  of  Christ, 
and  proclaim  my  dear  Lord  as  an  all- 
sufficient  Savior!" 

48 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE   MANLY  YOUTH  AND  FAMILY 
COUNSELOR. 

ALFRED  was  accustomed  to  lean  upon 
*"•  his  father  in  everything  and  for 
everything.  But  now,  mother,  brothers, 
and  sister  all  turn  to  him;  and  he,  a  boy 
of  thirteen,  takes  the  burden,  leaning 
only  on  God.  His  mother  says  that  this 
great  affliction  "brought  out,  in  all  their 
force  and  power,  what  had  been  until 
now  the  germs  of  Alfred's  character.  He 
realized  his  position  as  the  oldest  of  six 
children,  and  faithfully  tried  to  fill  up 
the  chasm  made  by  a  wise  though  in- 
scrutable Providence.  Eternity  alone 
will  unfold  all  he  was  to  his  family  as  a 
son  and  a  brother  in  the  years  of  his 
minority." 

Mr.  George  Cookman,  his  grandfather, 
writes  to  him  from  Hull  about  this  time, 
4  49 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

saying  to  him,  in  the  most  tender  man- 
ner: "I  look  to  you,  my  dear  Alfred,  as 
an  important  coadjutor  with  your  dear 
mother  in  forming  the  habits  and  char- 
acter of  your  family ;  and  it  gives  me  in- 
expressible pleasure  to  learn,  from  your 
dear  mother's  letter,  that  there  is  every 
reason  to  hope  that  my  expectations  in 
this  respect  will  be  fully  realized.  Rest 
assured  that  you  will  be  looked  up  to 
by  the  younger  members  of  the  family, 
and  in  setting  them  a  good  example,  in 
cheerfully  obliging  your  dear  mother,  in 
promptly  and  affectionately  obeying  her 
command,  and  in  sympathizing  with  her 
under  the  pressure  of  family  trials  and 
bereavements,  you  will  greatly  lighten 
her  burdens,  alleviate  her  sufferings,  and 
minister,  in  no  inconsiderable  degree,  to 
her  peace,  comfort,  and  happiness." 

He  urges  upon  him,  also,  that  he  "pay 
unremitting  attention  to  his  education ;" 
citing  his  father's  example  at  his  age, 
saying:  "It  was  by  adopting  this  course 
also  that  your  dear  Uncle  Alfred  became 
50 


The  Manly  Youth  and  Family  Counselor. 

so  distinguished,  both  at  home  among 
his  friends,  as  well  as  when  he  was  a  stu- 
dent at  the  university.  I  trust  their 
mantle  will  fall  on  you,  my  dear  boy,  and 
that  you  will  emulate  their  talents  and 
virtues." 

In  answer  to  this  letter,  Alfred  thanks 
his  grandfather  for  his  kind  advice,  say- 
ing: "Rest  assured  that  I  shall  always 
comply  with  the  wishes  of  dear  mother, 
and  in  every  way  in  my  power  aim  to 
make  her  happy." 

While  residing  in  Baltimore  for  the 
next  few  years,  he  was  favored  with  the 
instructions  of  Messrs.  Robert  H.  Patti- 
son,  Perley  R.  Lovejoy,  and  John  H. 
Dashiell.  These  men  he  had  known  as 
students  at  Carlisle.  He  took  prizes  in 
Mr.  Burleigh's  school  for  elocution,  for 
an  essay  on  Simplicity,  and  for  exercises 
in  Latin.  He  delivered  an  oration  on  the 
Fourth  of  July  which  was  very  credit- 
able for  one  of  his  years.  He  paid  some 
attention  to  Greek. 

While  his  mother  was  employed  in 
51 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

Christian  work,  which  often  took  her 
from  home  in  the  evening,  Alfred  would 
remain  at  home  with  the  children,  as- 
sisting them  in  their  lessons,  and  con- 
ducting with  them  family  devotions  in 
his  mother's  absence. 

At  the  early  age  of  seventeen  he  seems 
to  have  evinced  more  or  less  familiarity 
with  matters  relating  to  Church  and 
State,  always  placing  himself  squarely  on 
the  side  of  right,  whether  it  related  to 
the  subject  of  slavery  or  temperance.  It 
has  been  justly  said  that  a  "heart  more 
responsive  to  the  weal  of  the  Nation  and 
the  Church  never  throbbed  than  in  the 
bosom  of  Alfred  Cookman." 

In  1845,  Mr.  Cookman  seemed  to  have 
commenced  his  life-work,  but  more  as 
an  evangelist  than  a  preacher.  In  the 
Charles  Street  Church  there  was  a  body 
of  young  men,  Alfred  being  the  youngest 
of  the  number,  who  were  moved  with 
sympathy  for  a  class  of  sailors  who  were 
confined  to  the  waters  of  Chesapeake 
Bay,  no  one  seeming  to  care  for  their 
52 


The  Manly  Youth  and  Family  Counselor. 

souls.  These  young  men  rented  a  small 
sail-loft,  and  opened  it  for  religious  serv- 
ice. Here  they  labored  for  the  salvation 
of  these  seamen  with  success.  Rev.  S. 
Kramer  gives  an  account  of  Alfred's  first 
sermon.  It  was  at  the  time  he  was  aid- 
ing in  these  Bethel  services.  He  says : 
"I  felt  a  deep  interest  in  Alfred,  believing 
him  called  of  God  to  the  work.  As  a 
local  preacher,  I  had  appointments  regu- 
larly, one  of  which  was  at  Washington 
Factory,  five  miles  out  of  the  city.  One 
Sabbath  morning  I  asked  Alfred  to  ac- 
company me,  and  he  consented.  .  I  said 
nothing  to  him  about  taking  any  part 
in  the  services  until  we  were  on  the  road  ; 
then  4n  my  carriage  I  entered  into  con- 
versation with  him  on  the  subject  of  his 
call  to  the  ministry.  He  admitted  hav- 
ing a  strong  impression  that  way;  but 
said  his  way  was  not  open.  He  would  let 
the  Lord  make  his  duty  plain.  I  said 
somewhat  abruptly,  'Alfred,  you  must 
preach  for  me  to-day.'  'O  no/  he  re- 
plied, 'I  have  no  license  even  to  exhort, 
53 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

and  it  would  not  do.'  I  said :  'You  must 
make  a  beginning,  and  I  will  take  the 
responsibility.  I  feel  that  it  will  be  right 
for  you  to  do  so.'  When  we  arrived  at 
the  place  of  preaching,  I  took  him  and 
Brother  Griffin,  who  accompanied  us, 
into  the  pulpit,  and  made  Alfred  open  the 
services.  After  singing  and  prayer,  I 
handed  him  the  Bible,  telling  him  to  se- 
lect a  text  and  go  on,  and  I  would  pray 
for  him,  and  Brother  Griffin  would  fol- 
low. He  was  at  length  persuaded  to 
stand  up  and  announce  a  text,  and 
preached  his  first  sermon  then  and  there, 
in  his  schoolboy  jacket.  It  was  a  pleas- 
ant spring  morning,  and  while  I  can  not 
recall  the  exact  words  of  the  text,  I  re- 
member distinctly  the  sermon  was  on  the 
Christian  warfare.  God  owned  the  word, 
and  we  were  greatly  blessed.  When  we 
returned  to  the  city,  and  I  drove  to  his 
home,  his  dear  mother  came  out  and  met 
us,  and  when  I  told  her  what  he  had 
done,  she  said  it  was  the  fulfillment  of 
her  prayers  .and  heart's  desire." 
54 


The  Manly  Youth  and  Family  Counselor. 

Soon  after  this  a  young  man  belong- 
ing to  the  "Bethel  Fraternity,"  after  a 
protracted  illness,  passed  away.  His 
death  was  a  signal  triumph.  The  friends 
of  the  good  man  desired  Alfred  to  pre- 
pare a  funeral  discourse,  which  he  did, 
and  delivered  it  in  the  lecture-room  of 
the  Charles  Street  Church.  This,  his 
biographer,  Dr.  Ridgaway,  says  was  his 
first  sermon ;  but  according  to  the  state- 
ment of  Rev.  Mr.  Kramer,  it  was  not  his 
first.  There  is  no  doubt  that  this  second 
sermon  was  more  carefully  prepared,  and 
delivered  with  a  feeling  and  a  style  more 
impressive  than  his  first,  offhand  sermon 
before  named.  He  seems  to  have  been 
at  that  time  modest  in  his  manner  and 
ardent  in  his  feelings,  as  was  always 
characteristic  of  him. 

November  i,  1845,  Alfred  Cookman 
received  a  license  as  an  exhorter  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  This  was 
done  by  the  Charles  Street  Station,  Bal- 
timore. July  7,  1846,  he  received  license 
by  the  same  Church  to  preach.  His  li- 
55 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

cense  bears  the  signature  of  Rev.  John 
A.  Collins,  presiding  elder.  Mr.  Col- 
lins affirmed  that  Alfred  was  more  pro- 
ficient in  his  examination  than  any  other 
young  man  who  had  ever  come  before 
him  for  license. 

He  is  said  to  have  been  at  this  time 
quite  proficient  in  Latin,  Greek,  German, 
and  French ;  but  "humility  and  timidity 
were  his  peculiar  characteristics,  which 
kept  him  from  anything  like  display  or 
assumption." 

Alfred  decided  to  enter  upon  his  life- 
work  as  an  itinerant  Methodist  preacher. 
The  family  decided  to  remove  to  Phila- 
delphia, and  make  that  their  future  home. 
It  was  the  Conference  that  George  G. 
Cookman  first  joined ;  it  was  in  a  free 
State,  and  everything  combined  to  make 
it  a  most  desirable  residence  for  the  fam- 
ily. Alfred  had  desired  to  unite  with  the 
Philadelphia  Conference.  He  had  al- 
ready been  invited  by  Rev.  James  Mc- 
Farland,  presiding  elder  of  the  Confer- 
ence, to  supply  the  place  of  Rev.  D.  D. 
56 


The  Manly  Youth  and  Family  Counselor. 

Lore,  who  had  been  appointed  mission- 
ary to  Buenos  Ayres.  He  accepted  the 
invitation,  and  after  the  family  was  com- 
fortably settled,  he  started  for  his  ap- 
pointment. It  was  no  small  sacrifice  for 
Alfred  Cookman  to  leave  his  mother  and 
the  other  members  of  his  family.  But, 
believing  that  God  called,  he  mounted 
his  faithful  "Gerry,"  and  was  on  his  way 
to  Attleboro  Circuit,  under  charge  of 
Rev.  James  Hand,  presiding  elder.  Of 
his  departure  he  says :  "Quitting  one  of 
the  happiest  homes  t»  enter  the  itinerant 
work,  my  excellent  mother  remarked 
upon  the  threshold  of  my  departure,  'My 
son,  if  you  would  be  supremely  happy  or 
supremely  useful  in  your  work,  you  must 
be  an  entirely  sanctified  servant  of  Je- 
sus.' My  mother's  passing  but  pointed 
remark  followed  me  like  a  good  angel, 
as  I  moved  to  and  fro  in  my  first  sphere 
in  itinerant  life." 

On  this  first  circuit,  though  deprived 
of  many  of  the  comforts  he  had  enjoyed, 
he  shrank  from  no  duty,  submitted  joy- 
57 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

fully  to  all  the  hardships  of  that  hilly 
country.  He  became  very  sick.  "De- 
bility and  pain,"  he  says,  "seemed  to 
have  seized  my  entire  system,  and  I  was 
sick,  very  sick ;"  but,  through  the  mercy 
of  God,  he  soon  recovered  and  was  at 
his  work  again. 

The  Philadelphia  Conference  held  its 
session  in  1847,  m  Wilmington,  Dela- 
ware. Bishop  Hamline  presided.  Al- 
fred Cookman  made  application  for 
admission  to  the  Conference.  The 
Conference  was  sc  full  that  the  bishop 
recommended  that  they  receive  none  on 
trial,  and  the  Conference  so  voted.  This 
was  a  great  disappointment  to  Alfred; 
but  he  accepted  it  as  the  order  of  Provi- 
dence, and  consented  to  serve  another 
year  under  the  presiding  elder.  He  was 
employed  by  Rev.  Daniel  Lambdin,  on 
the  Delaware  City  Circuit.  Robert  Mc- 
Narmee  was  preacher-in-charge.  This 
circuit  proved  to  be  much  more  agree- 
able to  the  young  itinerant  than  Attle- 
boro  Circuit.  The  people  were  more 
58 


The  Manly  Youth  and  Family  Counselor. 

intelligent,  and  their  homes  more  invit- 
ing. He  had  no  permanent  home ;  but 
staid  around  among  the  people  as  it 
was  agreeable.  He  was  received  most 
cordially  and  listened  to  as  a  messenger 
from  God. 

In  the  spring  of  1848,  Alfred  applied 
again  for  admission  to  the  Conference, 
and  was  received  as  a  probationer,  and 
appointed  to  Gennantown  Circuit,  in- 
cluding Chestnut  Hill.  We  have  now 
followed  Alfred  Cookman  from  his  child- 
hood until  his  union  with  the  Philadel- 
phia Conference,  at  the  age  of  twenty 
years.  We  must' now  proceed  to  con- 
sider him,  not  so  much  in  detail,  as  to 
present  the  marked  characteristics  of  his 
life,  which  will  include  much  of  detail. 
59 


CHAPTER  V. 
THE  GREAT  SALVATION  EXPERIENCED. 

"\  I  7  E  have  spoken  of  Alfred's  conver- 
sion at  Carlisle  at  the  age  of  ten 
years,  under  the  ministry  of  his  father, 
and  of  his  full  reclamation  at  a  camp- 
meeting  near  Washington,  D.  C.  We 
are  now  to  consider  that  added  work, 
known  as  entire  sanctification,  which, 
in  all  his  subsequent  life,  was  the  sun 
of  his  soul,  the  continual  theme  of  his 
ministry,  and  the  splendor  of  his  remark- 
able career.  Alfred  Cookman  was  not  a 
genius,  and  will  never  go  down  to  pos- 
terity as  such ;  he  was  not  a  profoundly 
intellectual  character;  he  will  never  be 
known  as  possessed  of  a  towering  intel- 
lect. He  was  not  a  great  theologian, 
nor  a  master  of  science  or  philosophy, 
though  he  possessed  a  beautiful  mind,  a 
clear  and  strong  intellect.  He  did  not 
60 


The  Great  Salvation  Experienced. 

possess  the  power  of  eloquence,  like  a 
Summerfield,  a  Maffitt,  or  even  his  own 
honored  father.  Yet  he  was  not  defect- 
ive in  these  excellences ;  but  he  will  live 
in  the  Church,  and  the  fragrance  of  his 
life  will  go  down  to  the  latest  generation 
as  a  saintly  character,  whose  life  was  a 
constant  testimony  that  "the  blood  of 
Jesus  Christ  cleanseth  from  all  sin." 

While  on  his  first  circuit — Attleboro — 
he  says,  "I  frequently  felt  to  yield  myself 
to  God,  and  pray  for  the  grace  of  entire 
sanctification."  But  it  seemed  so  high 
as  not  to  be  reached  by  him,  and,  if  ob- 
tained, it  could  not  be  retained.  "My  be- 
setments  and  trials  are  such,"  he  says, 
"I  could  not  successfully  maintain  so 
lofty  a  position."  A  new  church  had 
been  erected  at  Newtown,  one  of  his 
principal  appointments  on  his  first  cir- 
cuit, and  the  services  of  that  saintly  man, 
Bishop  Hamline,  were  secured  to  dedi- 
cate it.  After  the  dedication,  the  bishop 
and  his  devoted  wife  remained  for  some 
days,  the  bishop  preaching  frequently, 
61 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

and  always  with  an  unction  which  moved 
the  heart  of  Alfred.  The  good  bishop 
and  his  wife  took  occasion  to  converse 
with  him  on  his^  religious  experience, 
and  urged  him  to  seek  the  higher  Chris- 
tian life,  and  at  once.  In  speaking  of  the 
bishop,  he  says :  "His  gentle  and  yet 
dignified  bearing,  devotional  spirit, 
beautiful  Christian  example,  unctuous 
manner,  divinely-illuminated  face,  apos- 
tolic labors,  and  fatherly  counsels  made 
a  profound  impression  on  my  mind  and 
heart.  I  heard  him  as  one  sent  from 
God.  His  influence,  so  hallowed  and 
blessed,  has  not  only  remained  with  me 
ever  since,  but  even  seems  to  increase 
as  I  pass  along  in  my  sublunary  pil- 
grimage." 

At  the  close  of  an  afternoon  sermon, 
in  which  the  bishop  urged  the  people  to 
seize  the  present  opportunity  to  do  what 
they,  as  believers,  had  often  desired,  re- 
solved, and  promised  to  do;  viz.,  "yield 
themselves  to  God,  as  those  who  were 
alive  from  the  dead,"  and  from  that  hour 
62 


The  Great  Salvation  Experienced. 

trust  constantly  in  Jesus  as  a  Savior — 
as  their  Savior  from  all  sin — Alfred  was 
among  the  number  who  said,  "I  will,  by 
the  help  of  the  Almighty  Spirit,  I  will," 
and  kneeling,  he  says,  "I  brought  an  en- 
tire consecration  to  the  altar — Christ." 
He  perceived  clearly  the  difference  be- 
tween the  consecration  now  required, 
and  that  made  at  conversion.  Then  he 
brought  powers,  as  he  says,  "dead  in 
trespasses  and  sins ;"  now  he  brings 
"powers  that  are  permeated  with  the  new 
life  of  regeneration,  so  that  the  sacrifice 
became  a  living  sacrifice."  Then  he 
seemed  to  mass  his  offering,  and  give 
himself  away,  not  fully  understanding 
what  was  embraced  in  such  surrender, 
simply  saying: 

"Here,  Lord,  I  give  myself  away; 
'T  is  all  that  I  can  do." 

Now,  with  clear  light,  "it  was  more  in- 
telligent, specific,  and  careful,  embrac- 
ing hands,  feet,  senses,  attributes  of  heart 
and  mind,  time,  reputation,  kindred, 
63 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

worldly  sustenance — everything."  Then 
he  was  "anxious  for  pardon ;"  now  "for 
purity  and  the  conscious  presence  of  the 
Sanctifier  in  his  heart."  With  this  con- 
secration, carefully  made,  he  says ;  "1 
covenanted  with  my  own  heart,  and  with 
my  Heavenly  Father,  that  this  entire, 
but  unworthy,  offering  should  remain 
upon  the  altar,  and  that  henceforth  I 
would  please  God,  by  believing  that  the 
altar — Christ — sanctified  the  gift."  The 
effect  which  followed  was  a  "broad,  deep, 
full,  satisfying,  sacred  peace,"  proceed- 
ing not  only  from  the  testimony  of  a 
good  conscience  before  God,  but  from 
the  presence  of  the  Spirit  in  the  heart." 
But  with  t^his  evidence  he  could  not  say 
that  he  was  fully  sanctified,  only  that  he 
was  set  apart  unto  God.  The  following 
day,  in  company  with  Bishop  and  Mrs. 
Hamline,  he  ventured  to  tell  them  what 
he  had  done ;  and  in  the  act  of  confess- 
ing, he  realized  a  degree  of  light  and 
strength.  Prayer  was  proposed,  and 
while  they  were  kneeling,  he  says,  "God, 
64 


The  Great  Salvation  Experienced. 

for  Christ's  sake,  gave  me  the  Holy 
Spirit  as  I  had  never  received  him  before, 
so  that  I  was  constrained  to  confess : 

"Tis  done!    Thou  dost  this  moment  save, 

With  full  salvation  bless  ; 
Redemption  through  Thy  blood  I  have, 
And  spotless  love  and  peace.' 

The  great  work  of  sanctification,  for 
which  I  had  so  often  hoped  and  prayed, 
was  wrought  in  me — even  me.  I  could 
not  doubt  it.  The  evidence  in  my  case 
was  as  direct  and  indubitable  as  the  wit- 
ness of  my  sonship,  received  at  the  time 
of  my  adoption  into  the  family  of  heaven. 
O,  it  was  glorious,  Divinely  glorious!" 
This  experience  inaugurated  a  new 
epoch  in  the  life  of  Alfred  Cookman. 
"Rest  in  Jesus,  an  abiding  assurance  of 
purity  through  the  blood  of  the  Lamb, 
conscious  union  and  communion  with 
God,  increased  power,  not  'only  to  do, 
but  to  suffer  the  will  of  God,  delight  in 
the  Master's  service,  fear  of  grieving  the 
Holy  Spirit,  love  for  and  a  desire  to  be, 
.5  65 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

with  the  entirely  sanctified,  joy  in  relig- 
ious conversation,  comfort  and  freedom 
in  prayer,  illumination  in  the  perusal  of 
the  sacred  Word,  increased  unction  in 
the  performance  of  public  duties, — these 
were  among  the  blessed  fruits  of  this 
new  life." 

Sad  as  it  may  seem,  this  delightful 
state  of  mind  continued  for  only  eight 
short  weeks,  when  the  fullness  of  the 
Comforter  was  withdrawn.  And  this  is 
the  sad  experience  of  multitudes  of  those 
who  profess  this  grace.  With  some  it  is 
one  thing,  with  others  another.  The 
Spirit  of  God,  by  whom  we  are  sanctified, 
is  a  jealous  Spirit,  easily  grieved  and 
driven  from  the  heart.  The  saintly  John 
Fletcher  lost  this  experience  four  or  five 
times,  before  he  became  established  in 
the  grace  of  complete  redemption.  With 
Alfred  Cookman,  it  was  on  this  wise. 
During  the  session  of  his  first  Confer- 
ence, he  found  himself  associated  with 
a  company  of  joking,  story-telling  min- 
isters, of  whom  there  are  vastly  too 
66 


The  Great  Salvation  Experienced* 

many-for  the  honor  of  the  Master  whom 
they  professed  to  serve.  Being  young  in 
experience,  and  forgetting  how  easily 
the  Spirit  is  grieved,  he  allowed  himself 
to  be  drawn  into  the  tide,  and  found  him- 
self indulging  in  trifling  conversation. 
As  he  returned  from  Conference  to  his 
new  field  of  labor,  he  became  conscious 
of  a  loss  of  spiritual  power.  Instead  of 
coming  with  humble  confession  at  once 
to  the  blood  of  cleansing  for  immediate 
forgiveness  and  restoration,  he  lost  his 
way,  and  for  several  year£  lived  without 
the  blessing,  which  had  filled  him  with  so 
much  delight. 

It  is  not  uncommon  that  good  men, 
losing  this  experience,  fall  into  great 
errors  with  respect  to  the  doctrine  of  en- 
tire sanctification.  This  was  the  case 
with  Alfred  Cookman.  To  satisfy  his 
conscience,  he  tells  us  that  he  accepted 
the  dogma  that  sanctification,  as  a  work 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  could  not  involve  an 
experience  distinct  from  regeneration. 
We  do  not  speak  unadvisedly  when  v 
67 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

aver  that  two-thirds  of  those  who  claim 
to  hold  and  advocate  this,  as  most  be- 
lieve, unscriptural  dogma,  once  professed 
to  enjoy  the  sanctifying  grace  of  God 
as  a  work  subsequent  to  regeneration. 
They  first  lost  the  enjoyment  of  heart- 
purity,  and  without  its  true  light  to  guide 
them  they  have  wandered  about  for  a 
time  in  the  dark,  scarcely  knowing  what 
to  believe,  and  have  finally  accepted  this 
dogma,  as  some  would  say,  a  little  better 
than  nothing — a  dogma  which  Mr.  Wes- 
ley persistently  resisted  during  his  entire 
ministry — and  have  by  it  sought  to  sat- 
isfy their  hungry  souls.  But  some,  like 
Alfred  Cookman,  have  returned. 

Of 'these  years,  Alfred  Cookman  says: 
"O,  how  many  precious  years  I  wasted 
in  quibbling  and  debating  respecting  the- 
ological differences !  not  seeing  that  I 
was  antagonizing  a  doctrine  that  must 
be  'spiritually  discerned,'  and  the.  tend- 
ency of  which  is  manifestly  to  bring  peo- 
ple nearer  to  God." 

It  was  during  these  sad  years  of  Al- 
68 


The  Great  Salvation  Experienced. 

fred's  life  that  he,  like  many  who  lose 
their  religious  enjoyment,  contracted  the 
habit  of  smoking,  which  very  generally 
saps  the  foundation  of  piety,  and  keeps 
thousands,  as  it  did  him,  from  the  foun- 
tain of  cleansing.  It  was  to  him  a  very 
great  temptation.  Though  he  manufac- 
tured excuses  for  the  indulgence,  he  felt 
that  the  practice  was  costing  him  too 
much  in  the  matter  of  his  religious  en- 
joyment. After  all  his  reasonings  and 
quibblings,  he  found  a  lack  of  spiritual 
life.  His  experience,  he  says,  "was  not 
steady,  round,  full,  or  abiding." 

The  friends  of  holiness  insisted  on 
three  steps,  which  to  him  seemed  reason- 
able :  i.  Entire  sanctification ;  2.  Ac- 
ceptance of  Jesus,  moment  by  moment, 
as  a  perfect  Savior;  3.  A  meek  but  defi- 
nite confession  of  the  grace  received. 
Then,  his  Newtown  experience,  which 
had  not  fully  passed  from  his  memory, 
supplied  an  overwhelming  confirmation 
of  what  seemed  so  reasonable,  and  at 
the  same  time  furnished  a  powerful  stim- 
69 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

ulus  to  the  performance  of  the  duty.  He 
finally  resolved  to  cast  aside  all  precon- 
ceived theories,  doubtful  indulgences, 
culpable  unbelief,  and  return  to  the 
"Mighty  to  save."  He  again  rededicated 
himself  to  God,  surrendered  the  doubtful 
indulgence  —  tobacco  —  and  accepted 
Christ  as  the  Savior  from  all  sin,  and 
again  claimed  the  witness  of  the  Spirit  to 
his  entire  sanctification.  On  doing  this, 
all  the  bliss  of  his  former  experience  re- 
turned, and  he  was  enabled  to  walk  in 
the  King's  "highway  of  holiness,"  con- 
scious that  "the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ 
cleansed  him  from  all  unrighteousness." 
T.en  years  later,  he  says :  "I  have  been 
walking  in  the  light  as  God  is  in  the 
light.  I  have  fellowship  with  the  saints, 
and  humbly  testify  that  the  blood  of 
Jesus  cleanseth  me  from  all  sin." 

Walking  one  day  with  a  friend,  they 
passed  two  distinguished  ministers,  one 
of  whom  was  smoking.  Alfred  re- 
marked :  "I  can  understand  how  that 
brother  enjoys  that  cigar.  I  used  to  en- 
70 


The  Great  Salvation  Experienced. 

joy  it  as  he  does.  I  was  very  fond  of  it, 
especially  after  my  day's  work  was  done. 
It  was  so  quieting  to  my  nervous  system 
to  rest  in  my  easy  chair,  with  my  cigar 
for  my  companion.  And  I  gave  it  up  for 
Jesus'  sake.  I  remember  I  told  Jesus 
how  soothing  to  me  this  delicate  nar- 
cotic was,  and  that  it  had  occurred  to  me 
that  it  was  a  doubtful  indulgence.  And 
yet  I  did  not  know  but  I  needed  it. 
Jesus  told  me  in  that  hour  that  he  would 
supply  all  my  need;  that  he  would  soothe 
me,  and  quiet  me,  and  rest  me  after  my 
labor,  and  I  gave  up  the  indulgence 
from  thiat  hour.  And  since  that  time, 
never  can  I  tell  what  Jesus  has  been  to 
me,  as  I  have  sat  in  my  arm-chair  to  rest 
when  wearied  and  alone  with  him.  He 
has  been  my  rest." 

From  the  hour  that  Alfred  Cookman 
redeclicated  himself  to  God,  and  received 
again  the  witness  of  heart-purity,  to  the 
time  that  he  ended  his  glorious  career, 
he  never  wavered  in  his  faith,  never  fal- 
tered in  his  testimony  to  the  power  of 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

Jesus'  Blood  to  cleanse  him  from  all  sin. 
But  for  his  experience  and  advocacy  of 
the  doctrine  of  entire  sanctification,  Al- 
fred Cookman  would  never  have  been 
known  and  revered  the  world  around  as 
the  "most  sacred"  of  men.  His  elo- 
quence would  have  been  forgotten,  his 
pleasing  manner  and  winning  address 
would  have  ceased  to  be  remembered. 
But  his  holy  life,  his  gentle,  earnest,  un- 
affected character  is  an  inspiration  to  the 
Church  in  its  struggles  for  freedom  from 
sin,  an3  must  ever  be  till  "Jesus  comes 
to  be  glorified  in  his  saints,  and  to  be 
admired  of  all  them  that  believe." 
72 


CHAPTER  VI. 
NATURAL  GRACES  AND  HOLY  LIFE. 

ALFRED  COOKMAN  was  well  born. 
**•  He  inherited  a  natural  dignity  not 
common  to  most  men.  There  was  a 
beauty  in  his  form,  an  elegance  and  an 
ease  in  his  manner,  a  natural  dignity  in 
his  deportment  which  were  not  artificial, 
not  put  on,  but  purely  natural,"  and  which 
made  him  a  marked  personage.  There 
is  no  doubt  that  his  "fine  physical  fiber 
had  much  to  do  with  the  delicacy  of  his 
feelings.-"  He  was  the  farthest  removed 
from  any  form  of  affectation,  and  "there 
was  nothing  human  which  was  foreign 
to  him."  He  was  in  height  five  feet  nine 
inches,  and  well  proportioned.  He  had 
a  full,  round  chest,  a  head  of  medium 
size.  His  hair  was  rich,  glossy  black, 
his  eyes  gray,  large  and  full,  not  pierc- 
ing, but  lustrous.  His  nose  was  straight, 
73 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

his  mouth  wide,  lips  moderately  full,  his 
chin  round  and  smoothly-shaven.  The 
whole  face  impressed  the  intelligent  ob- 
server that  he  was  in  the  presence  of  a 
man  of  marked  trustworthiness.  His 
fresh,  ruddy,  clear  complexion,  his  firm, 
sinewy  step,  his  erect  carriage,  all  com- 
bined to  make  him  a  marked  man. 

To  clothe  this  fine  personality  with 
the  beauty  of  holiness  was  to  raise  him 
to  a  dignity,  not  angelic,  but  graciously 
sacred.  Bishop  Foster  pronounced  him 
"the  most  sacred  man  I  have  ever 
known." 

It  is  one  thing  to  experience  the  grace 
of  entire  sanctification,  and  quite  another 
thing  to  exemplify  the  beauty  of  holiness 
in  the  life. 

It  is  doubtful  if  any  man  bf  modern 
times  has  manifested  this  rich  experience 
in  so  extraordinary  a  manner  as  Rev. 
John  Fletcher,  of  Madelay,  England. 
One  not  in  sympathy  with  his  teachings, 
and  who  had  felt  the  keen  edge  of  his 
Damascus  blade,  the  Rev.  Henry  Venn, 
74 


Natural  Graces  and  Holy  Life* 

writing  to  Dr.  Stillingfleet,  says :  "I  was 
for  six  weeks  in  the  home  with  the  ex- 
traordinary and  very  excellent  Mr. 
Fletcher.  O  that  I  might  be  like  him ! 
I  do  assure  you  that  I  strictly  observed 
him  for  six  weeks,  and  never  heard  him 
speak  anything  but  what  was  becoming 
as  a  pastor  of  Christ's  Church ;  not  a 
single  unbecoming  word  of  himself,  nor 
of  his  antagonists,  nor  of  his  friends.  All 
his  conversation  tended  to  excite  to 
greater  love  and  thankulness  for  the  ben- 
efits of  redemption,  while  his  whole  de- 
portment breathed  humility  and  love. 
We  had  many  conversations.  I  told  him 
most  freely  that  I  was  shocked  at  many 
things  in  his  'Checks/  and  pointed  them 
out  to  him.  We  widely  differ  about  the 
efficacy  of  Christ's  death,  the  nature  of 
justification,  and  the  perfection  of  the 
saints ;  but  I  believe  we  could  live  years 
together  in  great  love." 

Mr.  Fletcher  won  greater  victories  by 
his  life  than  by  his  logic,   though   the 
latter  has  done  much  to  establish  be- 
75 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

lievers  in  the  faith  of  free  and  full 
redemption. 

Alfred  Cookman  did  more  by  his  life 
than  by  his  pen  or  voice.  No  one  could 
be  in  his  presence  for  any  considerable 
time  but  would  be  forced  to  say,  as 
Henry  Venn  said  of  Mr.  Fletcher,  "O 
that  I  might  be  like  him !" 

His  holiness  was  not  simply  external, 
not  manufactured  for  the  occasion. 
There  was  no  attempt  to  appear  sancti- 
monious in  any  way  above  others.  It 
was  all  of  grace,  and  really  spontaneous. 
He  seemed  the  most  natural  of  men. 
His  very  countenance  was  an  index  to 
his  heart.  He  seemed  to  impress  all 
who  came  in  contact  with  him.  "I  never 
come  into  his  presence,"  said  one  of  his 
official  members,  "without  going  away 
a  better  man.  He  seems  to  captivate 
everybody  with  whom  he  comes  in  con- 
tact." Rev.  R.  P.  Smith  says :  "He  lived 
Christ,  and  reflected  the  beauty  of  the 
Man  Christ  Jesus  as  much  as  I  can  con- 
ceive of  any  human  being  doing."  "I 
76 


Natural  Graces  and  Holy  Life. 

do  not  think  that  I  was  ever  in  his  com- 
pany, even  for  five  minutes,  without  feel- 
ing painfully  my  own  deficiencies  and 
being  deeply  stirred  to  follow  him  as  he 
so  manifestly  followed  Christ.  I  always 
left  him  to  seek  more  of  the  grace  and 
power  of  God  in  my  soul.  Yet  he  was 
gentle  as  a  child,  and  seemed,  in  his 
simplicity  and  genuine  love,  to  make 
each  one  feel  that  he  was  the  object  of 
his  special  affection."  He  claimed  to 
possess  the  abiding  Comforter  con- 
stantly, and  no  one  with  whom  he  associ- 
ated ever  questioned  that  he  possessed 
all  that  he  professed. 

Writing  to  Rev.  M.  C.  Briggs,  D.  D., 
he  said :  "I  am  wonderfully  enjoying  my 
home  in  the  heart  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 
My  life,  as  I  humbly  trust,  is  hid  with 
Christ  in  God.  This  locates  me  at  the 
secret  source  of  every  blessed  thing." 

Writing  to  a  friend  in  Wilmington, 
Delaware,  about  the  same  time,  he  says : 
"In  the  life  of  faith  I  have  been  con- 
stantly associated  with  the  Lord  Jesus, 
77 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

and  he  has  been  ever  ruling  all  for  my 
spiritual  advantage.  When  I  left  my 
Wilmington  friends,  whom  I  loved  so 
tenderly,  he  gave  me  to  realize  that  I 
might  not  quit  for  a  moment  his  blessed 
side.  When  I  was  without  a  home,  he 
sweetly  reminded  me  of  my  permanent 
mansion  that  he  is  arranging  for  my  en- 
joyment. When  I  had  the  trial  of  meet- 
ing and  preaching  to  a  strange  people, 
he  kindly  whispered,  'Lo,  I  am  with  you 
ahvay,'  and  then  vindicated  his  encour- 
aging truth.  When  I  sat  down  in  our 
present  comfortable  abode,  I  said,  'AH 
this  is  of  God.'  I  love  the  Infinite  Giver 
more  for  his  unmerited  and  multiplied 
gifts.  And  thus  my  unsettlement,  and 
then  my  settlement  again,  have  both 
been  pressed  into  the  service  and  re- 
dounded to  the  advantage  of  my  higher 
spiritual  nature." 

"It  was  Martin  Luther  who  said  :  'God 

dwells  in  Salem  rather  than  in  Babylon.' 

Bless   his   holy  name !     He   makes   my 

heart  'Salem,'  and  then  he  himself  abides 

78 


Natural  Graces  and  Holy  Life, 

in  the  midst  of  his  sacred  quiet  and  satis- 
fying place.  His  precious  voice,  still 
small  and  sweet,  could  not  be  heard  amid 
the  confusion  of  Babylon ;  but  O !  in  this 
Salem  of  peace  we  listen,  and  hear  him 
only  speak !" 

These  utterances  tell  of  his  conscious 
and  perpetual  abiding  in  "the  secret 
place  of  the  Most  High." 

Rev.  Mr.  Ballard  says  of  him:  "The 
atmosphere  of  the  atonement  was  the 
residence  of  his  spirit.  He  was  my  con- 
ception of  a  hero — modest,  unassuming, 
unpretentious.  He  was  yet  firm  as  a 
rock  where  his  convictions  were  at  stake. 
In  his  ^position  regarding  the  doctrine 
of  personal  holiness  this  was  eminently 
true.  It  cost  him  small  sacrifices,  to 
which  he  never  alluded ;  it  risked  a  pop- 
ularity, which  was  eminent ;  but  none  of 
these  things  moved  him ;  calmly  and  un- 
pretentiously he  avowed  his  convictions, 
and  pressed  the  doctrine  everywhere, 
never  underestimating  his  brethren  who 
differed  from  him,  and  never  withdraw- 
79 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

ing  the  warmth  of  his  attachment  on  this 
account.  Such  a  man  is  a  hero,  and  such 
a  hero  was  Alfred  Cookman." 

Bishop  Simpson  spoke  of  him,  at  his 
funeral,  as  having  been  twice  his  pas- 
tor, once  in  Pittsburg,  and  then  in  Phila- 
delphia: "Years  ago  he  was  the  pastor 
of  my  family  in  Pittsburg,  and  my  chil- 
dren became  attached  to  him  as  their 
friend.  'And  since  we  have  been  in  the 
city  of  Philadelphia  he  was  again  our 
pastor,  and  I  saw  him  go  in  and  out. 
He  stood  by  the  dying  bed  of  one  I 
loved,  and  his  words  and  counsels  were 
those  of  a  Christian  minister.  I  say  that 
during  all  the  time  I  knew  him,  I  never 
heard  one  word  or  saw  the  manifesta- 
tion of  any  spirit  inconsistent  with  the 
highest  forms  of  the  Christian  life.  In 
the  pulpit,  and  out  of  it,  at  the  fireside, 
or  wherever  he  was,  a  faithful,  pious 
leader  of  the  people  and  follower  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  himself  deeply  de- 
voted, he  was  very  anxious  to  see  the 
higher  type  of  religion  prevailing  in  the 
89 


Natural  Graces  and  Holy  Life. 

Church,  and  very  often  his  theme  was 
Christian  holiness.  I  think,  as  he  stands 
before  the  Throne,  he  does  not  regret 
that  so  often  his  theme  was,  'Be  ye  holy, 
for  I  am  holy.'  I  rejoice  to  say,  he 
taught  only  the  doctrine  which  a  happy 
experience  and  godly  life  justify." 

These  words  seemed  carefully  chosen, 
and  were  uttered  with  the  deepest  feel- 
ing. And  as  we  listened  to  them,  they 
appeared  to  us  wise  and  truthful.  The 
vast  crowd  to  which  they  were  addressed 
gave  evidence,  by  their  deep  emotion 
and  tearful  countenances,  that  they  re- 
garded them  as*  eminently  fitted  to  de- 
scribe the  character  of  their  friend  and 
br.other. 

Rev.  Thomas  M.  Eddy,  D.  D.,  said: 
"He  was  the  saintliest  man  I  have  ever 
known." 

One  of  his  loving  parishioners  said  of 
him :  "The  basis  of  his  character,  so 
beautifully  developed  and  maintained, 
was  an  unwavering  faith  in  God,  and  a 
sincere  love  and  genuine  sympathy  for 
6  Si 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

his  fellow-men.  His  character  and  life 
afforded  a  beautiful  example  of  that  en- 
tire self-consecration  which  was  his  spe- 
cial ministry  to  preach." 

Rev.  Andrew  Longacre,  his  lifelong 
friend,  says  :  "To  many  of  us  he  was  what 
Tennyson  calls  his  friend : 

'The  sweetest  soul 
That  ever  looked  through  human  eyes.' 

I  need  not  remind  you  that  his  experi- 
ence" (of  holiness)  "had  in  it  nothing  of 
self-exaltation.  He  never  failed  to  dis-x 
claim  all  goodness  in  or  from  himself; 
but  he  rejoiced  always,  and  with  an  ex- 
ultant faith,  in  the  power  of  the  blood 
of  Jesus  to  cleanse  him  from  all  sin. 

"His  own  faith  and  experience  never 
seemed  to  separate  him  from  others  who 
did  not  think  or  feel  as  he  did.  No  one 
felt  at  a  distance  from  him  by  reason  of 
his  holiness.  It  was  a  holiness  that  at- 
tracted, not  that  repelled.  Men  might, 
if  they  pleased,  oppose  his  arguments 
with  doubts  and  objections;  they  might 
82 


Natural  Graces  and  Holy  Life. 

turn  away  from  his  burning  appeals; 
but  no  one  could  question  the  living 
purity  of  the  man,  the  practical  embodi- 
ment of  holiness  in  his  life." 

Rev.  T.  DeWitt  Talmage,  D.  D., 
says :  "Rev.  Alfred  Cookman's  life  comes 
back  to  me  like  the  sound  of  a  church- 
bell  embowered  in  trees  on  a  June  day. 
It  was  nothing  so  much  I  heard  him  say, 
or  anything  I  ever  saw  him  do,  that  so 
impressed  me  as  himself.  He  was  the 
grace  of  God  impersonated,  and  the/more 
I  saw  him  the  more  I  loved  him.  To  be 
with  him  was  to  be  blessed." 

Rev.  E.  Wentworth,  D.  D.,  says :  "His 
devotion  was  a  living  flame ;  his  example 
a  -shining  light ;  his  influence  a  genial 
glow ;  his  eloquence  genuine ;  his  zeal 
the  offspring  of  his  deepest  convictions 
— unsparing." 

Rev.  James  M.  L,ightbourn  says:  "Al- 
fred Cookman  was  the  best  model  of  a 
Methodist  preacher  I  ever  saw." 

We  could  fill  pages  with  such  testi- 
monials to  the  unexampled  holiness  in 
83 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

the  life  of  Alfred  Cookman.  The  great 
Church,  of  which  he  was  a  most  dis- 
tinguished member  in  all  her  branches, 
has  conceded  this,  and  the  Church  Uni- 
versal has  freely  admitted  that  he  was  as 
holy  as  it  falls  to  the  lot  of  mortals  to 
be  in  this  world  of  sin  and  woe.  But  it 
must  not  be  understood  that,  as  holy  as 
Alfred  Cookman  was,  he  was  in  any 
sense  an  ascetic.  To  him  holiness  was 
not  of  the  cloister  type.  It  did  not  con- 
sist in  the  wearing  of  iron  girdles,  or 
walking  with  gravel  in  one's  shoes,  or 
climbing  up  Pilate's  staircase  on  one's 
naked  knees.  He  was  the  farthest  re- 
moved from  external  acts  which  gave 
the  least  coloring  to  the  idea  that  he  ex- 
pected salvation  in  any  other  way  than 
by  faith  in  the  atonement  of  Jesus  Christ. 
Alfred  Cookman  enjoyed  life.  He 
took  a  deep  interest  in  everything  about 
him.  He  could  join  in  a  hearty  laugh 
with  his  friends,  and  be  religiously  merry 
with  little  children.  Repulsive,  sour 
godliness  found  no  place  in  his  experi- 
84 


Natural  Graces  and  Holy  Life. 

ence.  If  he  saw  an  honest  soul  drifting 
into  extravagance  and  towards  fanati- 
cism, or  one  of  a  moody  spirit  excluding 
himself  from  society,  he  was  always 
ready  to  win  him  back  to  real  life  and 
its  enjoyments.  We  insert  here  a  letter 
to  a  young  lady,  who  had  shown  marked 
signs  of  drifting  in  such  a  direction.  In 
the  kindest  words  he  says : 

"Walking  myself,  as  I  humbly  trust, 
in  the  light  of  full  salvation,  I  am  greatly 
delighted  to  know  that  you  are  a  youth- 
ful pilgrim  in  the  King's  pathway  of 
holiness.  I  believe  it  is  your  first  aim 
to  do  your  duty  and  enjoy  your  privilege. 
Living  thus,  you  will  walk  in  the  light ; 
aye,  your  path  will  shine  more  and  more 
unto  the  perfect  day.  I  gathered  from 
some  things  your  father  said,  that  in 
your  zeal  you  are  taxing  too  seriously 
your  powers,  both  of  mind  and  body. 
Now,  I  know  that  you  are  gentle  and 
teachable,  willing  to  accept  and  be  influ- 
enced by  the  advice  of  one  who  was  a 
former  pastor,  and  who  feels  very  ten- 
derly towards  every  member  of  your  dear 
family.  I  have  lived  longer  than  you, 
and  have  special  opportunities  for  larger 
85 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

observation,  and  hence  you  will  believe 
me  when  I  say  it  is  not  zvell  to  dwell  ex- 
clusively on  any  one  subject,  or  to  keep  our 
thoughts  and  energies  turned  in  but  one 
direction.  The  mind  is  so  constituted  by 
our  Heavenly  Father  that  it  is  healthiest 
when  it  passes  from  one  object  to  an- 
other. While,  therefore,,  to  get  good  and 
to  do  good  must  be  matters  of  primary 
importance,  still,  for  the  sake  of  your 
mind,  and  body,,  and  piety,  and  useful- 
ness, there  must  be  a  frequent  change,  an 
occasional  let-up.  You  must  think  of  other 
objects.  You  must  read  the  papers  and 
books  of  biography  and  history.  You 
must  mingle  with  your  friends,  and  enjoy 
innocently  social  intercourse.  You  must 
take  a  good  deal  of  exercise,  and  enjoy 
the  beauties  of  nature  and  art  that  you 
may  come  in  contact  with.  You  must 
not  allow  the  enemy  to  get  astride  of 
your  conscience,  ana  ride  you  to  death. 
Remember  that  our  Heavenly  Father 
means  that  his  children  shall  be  not  only 
the  best,  but  the  happiest  children  in  all 
the  world.  Get  innocent  joy  from  all 
earthly  sources,  and  you  will  be  better 
prepared  to  obtain  riches  and  more  satis- 
factory joy  from  himself.  Think  of  these 
things.  I  do  not  want  you  to  break 
down  in  health,  for  then  your  good 
86 


Natural  Graces  and  Holy  Life, 

would  be  evil  spoken  of.  Holiness  will 
have  in  that  case  to  bear  the  burden  or 
reproach.  God  bless  you  ;  you  are  his 
dear  child.  Accept  and  act  upon  these 
practical  suggestions.  - 

"From  your  Christian  brother, 

COOKMAN." 


What  could  be  more  tender,  wise,  and 
practical  than  these  suggestions  to  a  pro- 
foundly sincere  soul,  whom  Satan  had 
deluded  with  the  idea  that  she  must  ex- 
clude herself  from  the  world,  in  order  to 
convince  the  world  of  the  beauty  of  holi- 
ness. There  are  no  unkind  thrusts,  no 
condemnation  of  her  course,  no  hard 
names,  but  a  gentle  and  tender  persua- 
sion to  hold  fast  her  profession;  only 
changing  some  aspects  of  her  life  for 
Christ's  sake  and  the  cause  of  holiness. 
If  ministers  were  to  adopt  this  method 
with  those  whom  they  judge  to  be  drift- 
ing from  the  right  way,  and  do  it  in  the 
spirit  of  Alfred  Cookman,  what  untold 
troubles  might  be  avoided  ! 

It  was  not  Alfred  Cookman  in  the  pul- 
pit, on  the  platform,  at  the  camp-meet- 
87 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

ings ;  it  was  Alfred  Cookman  himself ;  it 
was  the  hallowed  savor  of  his  life,  the 
very  atmosphere  of  holiness  in  which  he 
moved,  that  impressed  those  about  him, 
and  made  him  the  living  example  of  all 
he  did  and  said. 

88 


CHAPTER  VII. 

ARDENT  LOVE  FOR  AMERICAN 
BONDMEN. 

TT  is  a  noticeable  fact  that  children  sel- 
*  clom,  if  ever,  have  prejudices  against 
persons  of  the  colored  race.  In  their 
childish  sports  they  seem  to  know  no 
difference. 

Alfred  Cookman,  when  less  than  five 
years  of  age,  at  the  time  his  father  trav- 
eled a  circuit  on  the  Eastern  Shore  of 
Maryland,  became  greatly  attached  to 
slave  children,  as  we  have  seen  in  these 
pages.  He  seems  to  have  possessed  a 
special  affection  for  them.  At  a  little 
later  period,  when  his  father  was  sta- 
tioned in  Alexandria,  Virginia,  he  came 
in  contact  with  a  more  repulsive  form  of 
this  unchristian  institution.  Here  he 
came  face  to  face  with  slave-pens  and 
auction-blocks  and  broken-hearted  bond- 
89 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

men.  He  saw  parents  and  children  be- 
hind prison  bars,  waiting  in  deepest 
anguish  for  the  hour  when  they  were  to 
be  separated,  never  more  to  meet  on 
earth.  These  heart-rending  scenes  made 
a  deep  and  lasting  impression  upon 
young  Cookman,  and  induced  in  him 
a  hatred  for  the  system  of  American  slav- 
ery which  time  could  never  efface.  His 
subsequent  residence  in  Baltimore,  after 
his  father's  death,  did  not  modify  his 
deep  hatred  of  the  system. 

When  the  time  came  for  him  to  decide 
what  Conference  he  would  join,  he  chose 
the  Philadelphia  in  preference  to  the 
Baltimore,  because  the  former  was  in  a 
free  State.  But  he  found,  subsequently, 
that  the  Philadelphia  was  a  border  Con- 
ference, and  many  of  its  members  were 
more  or  less  in  sympathy  with  their 
brethren  across  the  border. 

When,  in  1844,  the  great  struggle  by 

which  the  Methodist  Church  was  rent 

asunder  took  place,  Mr.  Cookman  was 

but  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  residing  in 

90 


Ardent  Love  for  American  Bondmen. 

Baltimore.  It  was  not  to  be  expected 
that  he  would  enter  into  the  merits  of 
the  conflict.  But  even  at  that  early  age 
he  was  a  keen  observer  'of  what  was 
transpiring  in  Church  and  State. 

While  Mr.  Cookman  was  pastor  of  the 
Union  Church,  Philadelphia,  the  "irre- 
pressible conflict,"  as  it  was  called,  be- 
tween slavery  and  freedom,  "was  fast 
approaching  a  crisis."  A  storm  was 
gathering,  and  it  was  about  to  burst  on 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  A 
hostility  the  most  bitter  existed.  Love 
had  given  place  to  hate.  The  North  was 
arrayed  against  the  South,  and  the  South 
against  the  North,  and  no  one  was  able 
to  suggest  a  cure  for  our  troubles. 

Many  of  the  leading  members  of  the 
Church  claimed  that  there  should  be  a 
rule  passed  by  the  General  Conference, 
requiring  slaveholding  members  to 
emancipate  their  slaves,  and  they  be- 
lieved that  by  such  an  action  the  State 
could  be  finally  reached.  There  was 
great  diversity  of  opinion  on  the  subject, 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

especiaily  in  the  border  Conferences,  of 
which  Philadelphia  was  one. 

Alfred  Cookman  was  one  of  the  men 
who  believed  that  such  a  rule  should  be 
adopted  and  enforced.  Measures  were 
inaugurated  to  secure  such  a  change  by 
a  proper  constitutional  process.  Mr. 
Cookman  believed  it  to  be  right,  and  was 
ready  to  give  it  his  most  hearty  support. 
In  his  own  Conference,  of  some  three 
hundred  members,  all  but  five  or  six  were 
against  him.  Perhaps  no  single  act  in 
Cookman's  life  gave  evidence  of  greater 
moral  heroism  than  this.  He  was  young 
and  popular,  and  was  really  the  idol  of 
the  Conference.  In  the  matter  of  stand- 
ing and  reputation  in  the  Conference,  he 
had  everything  to  lose,  and  nothing  to 
gain.  But  principle  was  more  to  him 
than  popularity.  Many  of  his  ardent 
friends  and  admirers  were  in  the  South, 
where  he  had  been  educated,  and  these 
friends  were,  many  of  them,  slavehold- 
ers. To  vote  for  this  measure  was  vir- 
tually to  declare  these  persons  sinners, 
91 


Ardent  Love  for  American  Bondmen. 

and  yet  he  believed  that  many  of  them 
were  lovers  of  Jesus,  and  that  he  should 
meet  them  in  heaven.  But  Alfred  Cook- 
man  believed  that  stern  duty  required 
him  to  support  the  measure.  And  with- 
out questioning  the  piety  or  virtue  of  the 
people  who  were  involved  in  slavehold- 
ing,  he  must  do  his  duty.  The  favored 
opportunity  had  come  for  action,  and  he 
must  stand  firm  to  his  principles,  or 
prove  a  traitor  to  his  most  profound  con- 
victions of  duty.  If  any  one  has  ever  im- 
agined that  Alfred  Cookman  was  weak, 
yielding  too  much  to  the  prejudices  of 
others  in  matters  where  he  should  have 
stood  firm,  let  them  mark  his  action  on 
this  occasion.  Dr.  Ridgaway,  referring 
to  this  action,  says :  "Cutting  away  from 
all  social  and  personal  entanglements, 
the  man  stood  forth  in  an  act  of  moral 
heroism  seldom  surpassed  in  the  history 
of  Methodism.  When  the  resolutions 
initiating  the  change  were  pending  be- 
fore the  Conference,  he  got  down  upon 
his  knees  in  the  pew,  and,  bathed  in  tears, 
93 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

poured  out  his  soul  to  God  for  light  and 
strength,  and  arose  and  voted  Aye.'' 
That  was  courage  worthy  of  the  name. 
He  might,  as  some  have  done  in  like 
circumstances,  retired  from  the  Confer- 
ence, and  thus  avoided  the  responsibility 
and  saved  his  reputation.  But  Alfred 
Cookman  was  not  of  that  make-up.  The 
sole  question  with  him  was,  What  is 
duty?  That  question  settled,  nothing 
could  stand  between  him  and  its  per- 
formance. This  is  the  stuff  of  which 
martyrs  are  made.  An  honest  slave- 
holder would  have  said  the  act  was 
worthy  of  the  noble  Vnan  he  was. 

The  General  Conference  met  in  Buf- 
falo, May  i,  1860.  Mr.  Cookman  was 
anxious  to  be  present.  With  several 
members  of  his  own  Conference,  he  at- 
tended. They  were  full  of  interest  to 
see  how  the  battle  went.  Writing  to  his 
wife  from  the  seat  of  the  Conference,  he 
said:  "Great  excitement  obtains  among 
all  concerned  in  General  Conference  pro- 
ceedings. The  anti-slavery  column 
94 


Ardent  Love  for  American  Bondmen. 

stands  strong  and  united.  May  God  rule 
and  overrule !"  "To-day  the  slavery  bat- 
tle commenced.  The  excitement  is  in- 
tense. Comb  led  off,  followed  by  Moody 
and  Norvel  Wilson.  The  Baltimoreans 
are  here  in  large  numbers.  They  are  in- 
tensely excited.  The  General  Rule  will 
not  be  changed ;  but  there  will  be  a  seces- 
sion on  the  border.  I  judge  we  are  in 
perilous  times ;  but  the  Lord  reigneth. 
If  I  were  not  conscientious  before  God, 
the  pressure  of  friends  might  move  me 
from  my  position ;  but  while  I  would  not 
grieve  them,  I  must  and  will  cling  to 
truth  and  right." 

The  conflict  in  the  General  Confer- 
ence, and  his  deep  interest  in  it,  did  not 
ruffle  his  spirit.  He  says :  "My  spiritual 
enjoyment  in  Buffalo  has  been  unusual. 
Love  fills  my  heart;  love  for  God  and 
for  all  around.  O,  I  feel  during  every 
succeeding  hour  that  I  am  at  peace  with 
Heaven,  and  prepared,  if  it  should  be  the 
Master's  will,  to  quit  these  stormy 
scenes,  and  rest  with  angels  and  the 
95 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

glorified !"  This  was  the  spirit  in  which 
Mr.  Cookman  engaged  in  the  moral  con- 
flicts of  his  times. 

In  1862,  when  the  war-cloud  was  thick 
and  threatening,  Mr.  Cookman  was  on 
a  visit  to  his  native  town,  Lancaster,  Pa. 
While  there  he  addressed  the  citizens  of 
the  town  in  a  patriotic  speech  of  thrilling 
interest.  Among  other  things,  he  said : 
"In  the  language  of  old  John  Adams, 
'Sink  or  swim,  live  or  die,  survive  or 
perish,  I  give  my  heart  and  my  hand'  to 
these  Union  measures.  It  is  my  living 
sentiment,  and,  with  the  blessing  of  God, 
it  will  be  my  dying  sentiment,  'Liberty 
and  the  Union  now,  liberty  and  Union 
forever.' ': 

The  entire  address  was  replete  with 
the  noblest  patriotic  sentiments.  He 
urged  that  the  war  should  be  prosecuted 
unfil  every  rebel  voice  was  hushed,  and 
the  "Stars  and  Stripes"  waved  over  a 
united  country. 

The  New  York  Conference,  of  -which 
he  was  a  member,  met  in  New  York 
96 


Ardent  Love  for  American  Bondmen. 

City,  and  excitement  was  at  a  high  pitch. 
Two  events  had  transpired  which  had 
contributed  to  that  excitement.  A  mem- 
ber of  the  Conference,  Rev.  Pelatiah 
Ward,  had  enlisted  in  the  service,  and 
had  been  killed.  The  President  of  the 
United  States,  Abraham  Lincoln,  had 
issued  the  "Proclamation  of  Emancipa- 
tion," the  justice  of  which  was  questioned 
by  some,  and  the  policy  of  the  act  was 
questioned  by  others.  Mr.  Cookman 
prepared  the  war  report,  the  reading  of 
which  produced  a  profound  sensation  in 
the  body.  It  was  a  time  of  great  excite- 
ment. The  report  had  the  true  patriotic 
ring.  It  contained  ten  resolutions,  cov- 
ering the  entire  field.  The  fourth  was  a 
strong  arraignment  of  certain  parties  in 
and  out  of  the  Church.  It  says : 

"That  the  conduct  of  those  who,  in- 
fluenced by  political  affinities  or  South- 
ern sympathies,  and  under  a  pretext  of 
discriminating  between  the  Administra- 
tion and  the  Government,  throw  them- 
selves in  the  path  of  almost  every  warlike 
7  97 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

measure,  is  in  our  view  covert  treason, 
which  has  the  malignity  without  the 
manliness  of  those  who  arrayed  them- 
selves in  open  hostilities  to  our  liberties, 
and  is  deserving  of  our  sternest  denun- 
ciation and  our  most  determined  oppo- 
sition." The  fifth  resolution  says :  "That 
slavery  is  an  evil,  incompatible  in  its 
spirit  and  practice  with  the  principles  of 
Christianity,  with  republican  institutions, 
with  the  peace  and  prosperity  of  our 
country,  and  with  the  traditions,  doc- 
•  trines,  and  Discipline  of  our  Church ; 
and  that  our  long  and  anxious  inquiry, 
'What  shall  be  done  for  its  extirpation?' 
has  been  signally  answered  by  Divine 
Providence,  which  has  given  to  Abraham 
Lincoln,  President  of  the  United  States, 
the  power  and  the  disposition  to  issue  a 
Proclamation  guaranteeing  the  boon  of 
freedom  to  millions  of  Southern  bond- 
men." 

No  one  doubted  as  to  where  Alfred 
Cookman's  heart  palpitated  at  this  time. 
98 


Ardent  Love  for  American  Bondmen. 

The  report  was  adopted,  with  but  slight 
opposition. 

It  was  during  Mr.  Cookman's  pastor- 
ate at  Trinity  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  New  York,  that  he  had  his  army 
experience.  He  was  ready  to  do  as  well 
as  talk.  Under  the  direction  of  the 
Christian  Commission  he  went  to  the 
front,  and  for  the  usual  period  of  such 
service  he  wrought  valiantly  in  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.  He  shunned  no  danger, 
avoided  no  responsibility.  His  chief  ob- 
ject seemed  to  be  to  win  men  to  God. 
Many  souls  were  genuinely  converted. 
Reference  is  made  to  his  work  in  the 
army  in  another  part  of  this  volume,  to 
which  we  refer  the  reader.  His  letters 
from  the  army,  addressed  to  his  wife  and 
others,  breathe  the  same  spirit  of  holy 
ardor  and  quenchless  love  of  souls. 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Cookman 

would  settle  the  "National  Problem  of 

Reconstruction,"  by  giving  the  Freed- 

men  the  "spelling-book,  the  Bible,  equal 

99 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

rights  before  the  law,  and  the  elective 
franchise  as  their  weapons  of  defense, 
and  then  leave  all  the  rest  to  God." 
Nothing  could  have  been  more  in  har- 
mony with  justice  and  right.  The  slave 
was  free.  That  was  all.  He  had  noth- 
ing, and  needed  everything.  Many  of 
the  advocates  of  freedom  were  in  doubt 
as  to  the  best  thing  to  do.  Alfred  Cook- 
man did  not  share  in  these  doubts.  He 
believed  that  the  act  of  emancipation  was 
an  act  inspired  by  God,  and  it  was  now 
for  us  to  do  our  duty,  and  all  would  be 
right.  An  extract  or  two  from  a  letter, 
written  to  his  sister  Mary,  will  set  forth 
his  views  on  this  subject  fully,  and  with 
these  we  will  conclude  this  chapter : 

Mr.  Cookman  says :  "Last  night  I 
made  a  speech  in  the  largest  colored 
church  in  Philadelphia;  two  bishops, 
a  book  agent,  a  missionary,  an  editor, 
etc.  (all  black),  on  the  platform.  Justice 
to  the  Freedman  and  justice  to  the 
traitor,  was  my  political  creed  an- 
nounced ;  duty  to  their  brethren  in  the 
100 


Ardent  Love  for  American  Bondmen. 

South,  the  exhortation  urged.  We  had  a 
glorious  time.  I  thought  of  our  honored 
father;  how  he  would  have  reveled  and 
kindled  and  flamed  on  such  an  occasion, 
or  under  such  circumstances. 

"This  suggests  your  inquiry  respect- 
ing colonization.  My  impression  is  that 
colonization  belongs  to  some  future 
Providential  development.  God  is  using 
the  African  race  just  now  to  teach  us 
lessons  of  justice,  and  can  not  dispense 
with  the  lesson-book.  When  we  are  dis- 
posed to  do  justly  in  every  particular, 
then  I  rather  expect  Providence  will 
open  some  gold-mines  or  oil-wells,  or 
something  else,  on  the  African  coast,  or 
in  some  other  locality,  where  black  peo- 
ple can  best  live,  and  so  we  shall  work 
out  the  problem  of  colonization.  At  the 
present  time  they  are  not  only  important 
for  testing  our  integrity,  but  also  for  cul- 
tivating our  soil.  I  think  that  coloniza- 
tion must  be  left  to  Providence  and  the 
colored  people  themselves.  We  can  not 
force  them  away.  It  would  be  unwise, 
101 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev*  Alfred  Cookman. 

unkind,  and  unchristian.  Let  us  live 
for  the  present,  faithfully  discharging  the 
duties  of  the  present  hour,  which  is  to 
educate  and  elevate  the  people  whose  un- 
requited labors,  multiplied  wrongs,  tedi- 
ous bondage,  and  ,deep  degradation  give 
them  a  special  claim  upon  us.  Give  them 
the  spelling-book,  the  Bible,  equal  rights 
before  the  law,  the  elective  franchise  as 
their  weapons  of  defense,  and  then  leave 
all  the  rest  to  God.  In  such  a  case  I 
would  implicitly  trust  Providence;  One 
who  is  himself  infinitely  just,  holy,  and 
good." 

We  -doubt  if  this  yexed  question, 
"What  shall  be  done  with  the  black 
man?"  has  ever  been  more  clearly  an- 
swered in  harmony  with  what  are  the 
dictates  of  Christianity  than  by  Alfred 
Cookman. 

Cookman  Institute,  Jacksonville,  Flor- 
ida, established  for  the  education  of 
Freedmen,  was  named  in  honor  of  Alfred 
Cookman,  the  lifelong  friend  and  de- 
fender of  the  colored  race. 

102 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

ALFRED  COOKMAN,  A  MODEL  FAMILY 

MAN. 

J\A  R.  COOKMAN  was  no  mystic, 
seeking  to  attenuate  and  exhaust 
the  body  in  order  to  develop  the  inner 
spiritual  life.  He  was  no  ascetic,  devot- 
ing himself  to  solitary  contemplation; 
no  hermit  or  recluse,  in  cave  or  monas- 
tery, shut  out  from  all  earthly  attractions, 
practicing  extreme  mortification,  that  he 
might  enjoy  greater  union  with  God, 
and  build  himself  up  in  holiness. 

There  have  been  persons  of  extraor- 
dinary piety,  who  have  denied  themselves 
the  pleasures  of  the  married  life,  believ- 
ing it  detrimental  to  the  highest  form  of 
communion  with  God.  The  Rev.  John 
Fletcher  for  many  years  was  deterred 
from  taking  this  step,  influenced  by  such 
considerations.  He  finally  saw  his  error, 
103 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

and  concluded  that  if  Enoch,  at  the  head 
of  a  family,  was  fit  for  translation,  it  was 
not  a  subject  to  be  lightly  esteemed,  and 
he  subsequently  married. 

Alfred  Cookman,  a  man  of  extraor- 
dinary devotion  to  God,  seems  never 
to  have  been  influenced  by  such  unscrip- 
tural  vagaries.  He  entered  upon  this 
God-ordained  relation,  not  without  a 
profound  sense  of  its  most  sacred  char- 
acter, and  of  the  obligations  it  involved. 
He  possessed  all  the  natural  instincts  of 
human  nature,  controlled  by  super- 
abounding  grace,  making  him,  in  all 
respects,  a  model  family  man.  His  holi- 
ness shone  as  brightly  in  the  family  as 
in  the  pulpit. 

Alfred  Cookman  was  united  in  mar- 
riage, March  6,  1851,  to  Miss  Annie  E. 
Bruner,  daughter  of  Mr.  Abraham 
Bruner,  of  Columbia,  Pennsylvania.  He 
had  spent  some  months  previous  to  his 
marriage,  on  -a  voyage  to  England,  to 
visit  his  aged  grandfather.  He  seems 
to  have  been  delighted  with  his  visit, 
104, 


Alfred  Cookman,  a  Model  Family  Man. 

as  his  correspondence  to  his  friends 
abundantly  shows. 

In  a  letter  addressed  to  Miss  Bruner, 
previous  to  their  marriage,  he  says :  "In 
the  matter  of  marriage,  above  all  others, 
I  have  been  desirous  that  God  should 
rule  and  overrule ;  indeed,  I  have  incor- 
porated this  in  my  private  addresses  to 
the  Throne  of  Grace.  In  looking  back 
upon  the  past,  I  think  I  am  prepared  to 
say,  'He  hath  done  all  things  well/  and 
in  all  my  associations  with  you  can  most 
distinctly  perceive  the  hand  of  an  over- 
ruling Providence.  I  desire  to  be  un- 
feignedly  grateful  to  my  Heavenly 
Father  for  this  and  all  other  manifesta- 
tions of  his  tender  care  and  watchful 
love,  and  in  the  strength  of  grace  would 
solemnly  pror  him  4o  be  more  de- 
voted to  his  .1  cause  in  all  future 
time." 

Ther^  ^t     be  no  doubt  that  the  union 

between  these  two  young  hearts  was  as 

tender,  loving,  and  unchanging  as  ever 

fell  to  the  lot  of  souls  to  enjoy.     The 

105 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

wife  was  a  helpmeet  to  her  husband. 
For  twenty-one  years  they  walked  to- 
gether in  love,  and  then  the  parting 
came.  On  the  completion  of  the  first 
ten  years  of  their  married  life,  Alfred 
makes  this  record  :  "On  the  6th  of  March, 
1851,  I  linked  my  fortunes  with  those 
of  my  dearly-beloved  wife,  and  now, 
on  the  tenth  anniversary  of  our  blessed 
union,  I  would  record  my  gratitude  to 
Almighty  God,  whose  kind  providence 
gave  and  hath  preserved  to  me  one  so 
well  deserving  the  name  of  'helpmeet.' 
Our  life,  made  up  of  fidelity  and  love, 
has  been  like  a  deepening  and  widen- 
ing  stream,  upon  which  we  have  floated 
together  in  delightful  harmony.  Our 
home,  with  its  five  little  buds  of  beauty 
and  promise,  h#s  been  an  Eden-spot, 
where  our  Infinite  Father,  who  dwelt 
\vith  the  first  pair  in  Paradise,  has 
vouchsafed  us  his  constant  presence.  O, 
how  much  of  pure  love  and  true, joy 
have  been  compressed  within  these  ten 
years  of  my  life!  Accept,  my  precious 
106 


Alfred  Cookman,  a  Model  Family  Man. 

Annie,  this  humble  but  sincere  testi- 
mony to  your  thoughtful  care,  constant 
kindness,  unsullied  goodness,  untiring 
fidelity,  and  uninterrupted,  yea,  increas- 
ing devotion. 

"We  have  lived  and  loved  together 
thus  long,  and  now,  on  this  anniversary, 
let  us,  in  token  of  our  gratitude  to  God 
and  our  affection  for  one  another,  build 
a  pillar  of  witness.  It  shall  be  com- 
posed of  these  ten  stones,  one  for  each 
year  of  our  married  life :  Love,  truth, 
purity,  kindness,  fidelity,  sincerity,  con- 
stancy, thankfulness,  holiness,  Christ  the 
Corner-stone.  This  is  the  altar  upon 
which  we  will  renew  our  vows,  to  love, 
comfort,  honor,  and  keep  one  another 
so  long  as  we  both  shall  live." 

Mr.  Cookman's  letters  to  his  wife 
breathe  the  spirit  of  purest  affection,  and 
his  references  to  his  children  are  of  gen- 
uine fatherly  tenderness.  Writing  to  his 
wife,  from  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania, 
he  says :  "In  this  world  of  insincere 
profession  and  mere  external  manifesta- 
107 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

tion,  it  is  delightful  to  know  there  is 
one  warm,  true  heart  in  which  you  may 
confidently  repose.  The  genuineness  of 
your  love  I  have  never  questioned  for 
an  instant,  and,  next  to  the  Pearl  of 
Great  Price,  I  prize  it  as  the  most  pre- 
cious of  my  heart's  jewels.  Be  sure  it 
is  not  foolishly  expended.  I  am  glad 
that  our  dear  boys  continue  so  well. 
They  are  two  beautiful,  blessed  children, 
for  whom  we  ought  to  be  profoundly 
thankful  to  the  Giver  of  every  good  and 
perfect  gift."  Writing  again  from  the 
same  place,  he  says :  "Here  I  am  at  my 
study  table  again,  attending  to  corre- 
spondence and  other  matters.  O  that 
you  were  at  my  side !  O  that  I  could 
look  around  and  see  the  faces  of  my 
beautiful  boys.  All  is  desolation," 
he  says,  "in  your  absence."  He  seems 
never  to  be  so  happy  as  when  wife  and 
children  were  all  about  him,  and  he  en- 
tering into  the  innocent  enjoyments  of 
his  family  life. 

From  Pittsburg,  writing  to  his  absent 
108 


Alfred  Coofcman,  a  Model  Family  Man. 

4 

wife,  he  says :  "I  wonder  how  you  all 
are  this  evening.  I  think  of  you  almost 
constantly,  and  am  happiest  when  I  can 
bask  in  the  refreshing  radiance  of  your 
sunny  faces." 

These  are  expressions  of  domestic 
affection  of  rare  excellence.  They  show 
that  he  was  a  most  tender  and  devoted 
husband  and  father. 

Writing  to  his  mother,  he  says,  "The 
children  exhibit  every*  day  some  new 
charm,  some  fresh  attraction,"  showing 
that  he  was  deeply  interested  in  all 
the  special  and  attractive  developments 
of  his  children.  There  was  nothing  re- 
pulsive in  his  manner,  but  a  sweet, 
tender,  gentle  spirit,  which  won  the  un- 
dying love  of  wife  and  little  ones.  The 
children  were  unrestrained  in  their  inno- 
cent joy  in  his  presence,  in  all  of  which 
he  was  ready  to  join  them,  making 
himself  one  with  them.  In  a  letter  to  his 
wife  from  Johnstown,  where  he  was  at- 
tending the  first  session  of  the  Pitt?burg 
Conference,  to  which  he  had  just  been 
109 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

• 

transferred,  he  says :  "I  have  thought 
a  good  deal  about  you  since  my  depart- 
ure. My  wife  and  sons  are  the  dearest 
idols  of  my  affection,  and  I  am  never 
so  happy  as  when  I  have  you  by  my 
side." 

\Ye  hear  him  again,  in  a  similar 
strain,  writing  from  Pittsburg,  saying: 
"I  thank  you  for  your  letter,  breathing 
so  much  of  true  devotion.  I  assure  you 
that  it  comes  to  me  in  desolation  like 
an  angel  of  light.  I  need  not  say  that 
your  enthusiastic  affection  finds  the  very 
warmest  reciprocation  in  my  heart.  To 
say  that  you  are  the  dearest  object  of 
my  heart  and  life  is  to  tell  the  truth 
but  feebly.  How  I  thank  God  that  I 
was  ever  permitted  to  gaze  upon  your 
sunny  face  and  claim  you  as  my  own ! 
God  bless  you,  precious  Annie,  and 
spare  your  valuable  life  many,  many 
years.  Have  I  not  proven  a  faithful  cor- 
respondent? Well,  I  deserve  little 
credit,  and  it  is  really  no  ordinary  happi- 
ness for  me  to  sit  down  and  commune 
1 10 


Alfred  Cookman,  a  Model  Family  Man. 

through  this  unsatisfactory  medium  with 
her  who  is  all  the  world  to  me — espe- 
cially when  I  know  my  letters  are  adding 
to  your  pleasure.  Kiss  my  boys  for 
poor  Pa.  Tell  them  that  I  intend  to 
bring  up  their  carriage  out  of  the  cellar, 
and  have  it  all  ready  for  their  occupancy 
and  use." 

Again,  he  writes  to  his  wife,  who  is 
seeking  rest  and  health, at  Columbia, 
her  native  place :  "I  am  managing  to 
exist  in  your  absence.  It  is  not  living, 
and  yet  I  bear  it  because  I  think  that 
you  are  happier  in  the  East  than  you 
could  be,  perhaps,  in  Pittsburg.  You 
know  that  your  comfort  is  my  rule  and 
constant  object." 

He  writes,  January  16,  1858:  "God 
has  given  me  my  first  daughter.  O  how 
multiplied  are  Heaven's  mercies !" 

Writing  to  his  wife,  from  Philadelphia, 
who  is  at  her  home  in  Columbia,  he 
says :  "The  children  are  both  well.  Just 
now  they  came  into  my  study  and  placed 
on  my  table  their  portemonnaies,  saying, 
in 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

'Pa,  this  is  your  birthday  present  from 
us.'  Dear  fellows,  they  did  it  of  their 
own  accord,  and  in  perfect  good  faith. 
I  put  their  present  in  my  pocket,  and 
thanked  them  very  sincerely.  George 
asks  a  great  many  questions  about  his 
sister  Annie.  When  I  speak  of  Ma's 
return,  their  little  eyes  dance  with  de- 
light." 

On  his  removal  to  New  York,  his 
family  went  to  their  old  family  home 
until  their  new  home  was  in  readiness. 
Alfred,  writing  to  his  wife,  says,  "I  do 
not  know  how  I  can  endure  absence 
from  my  loved  ones  so  long;  but  I  live 
a  day  at  a  time,  and  try  to  keep  the 
future  out  of  my  thoughts."  "Last 
night,"  he  says,  "I  walked  the  streets 
of  New  York  with  Jesus.  Do  not  be 
surprised.  This  was  a  precious  real- 
ization, and  my  heart  burned  within  me 
as  I  communed  with  my  kind  and 
sympathizing  Redeemer.  It  was  one  of 
the  evenings  of  my  life."  Though  he 

112 


Alfred  Cookman,  a  Model  Family  Man. 

is  surrounded  by  many  friends,  and  a 
vast  population,  in  the  great  city,  "Nev- 
ertheless, I  suffer,"  he  says,  "a  sense  of 
isolation.  My  precious  family  are  ab- 
sent, and  none  can  serve  as  a  substi- 
tute. Were  it  not  for  the  presence  of 
my  blessed  Savior,  which  has  been  a  de- 
lightful and  continued  realization,  I 
could  scarcely  have  borne  the  depriva- 
tion, I  have  been  suffering.  My 
Heavenly  Father  has  been  specially 
gracious  to  me,  within  the  past  week  or 
two,  accompanying  me  in  my  walks,  vis- 
iting me  in  my  night  seasons,  strength- 
ening and  blessing  me  in  the  society  of 
friends,  and  keeping  my  mind  in  perfect 
peace." 

Mr.  Cookman's  letters  to  his  children 
breathe  a  spirit  of  fatherly  tenderness 
and  familiarity  which  is  seldom  found 
among  men.  There  is  nothing  stern 
or  commanding,  nothing  to  repel,  but 
everything  to  inspire  love  and  deepest 
sympathy.  The  following  was  written 
8  113 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

from  New  York  to  his  three  children, 
who  were  in  Columbia,  Pennsylvania : 

"It  is  Saturday  night,  when  Pa,  you 
know,  usually  studies  his  sermons. 
Bruner  is  asleep,  Will  is  asleep,  little 
Beck  Evans  is  asleep,  Ma  is  getting 
ready  for  bed,  and  I  am  writing  a  letter 
to  my  dear  George  and  precious  Frank, 
and  sweet  little  Sister  Puss.  Well,  how 
have  you  been  getting  along  this  week? 
I  hope  you  have  been  very  good,  mak- 
ing as  little  noise  as  possible;  obeying 
all  that  Aunt  B.  or  Grandma  has  said ; 
remembering  your  prayers  every  night 
and  morning ;  asking  your  blessing,  and 
behaving  well  at  the  table,  and  acting 
like  little  New  York  gentlemen.  On 
Tuesday  I  watched  you  waving  your 
hats,  and  handkerchiefs,  and  flags,  until 
I  could  see  you  no  longer.  Then  I  sat 
down  until  I  reached  Lancaster.  When 
I  got  home,  little  Prince  danced  for  joy, 
he  was  so  glad  to  see  me.  Then  I  started 
for  Nyack,  where  I  found  Ma  and  Brune 
114 


Alfred  Cookman,  a  Model  Family  Man. 

and  Will  and  little  Baby  Sister.  They 
were  as  much  delighted  as  Prince. 
They  asked  me  a  hundred  questions 
about  George  and  Frank  and  Sister.  I 
told  Ma  that  you  were  magnificent  boys  ; 
that  Frank  did  not  cry;  that  sister  was 
growing  to  be  a  large,  lovely  girl.  We 
talk  of  you  every  day,  and  want  the 
weeks  to  go  by  right  fast  until  we  shall 
all  sit  down  together  in  Columbia.  We 
send  'kisses.  George  must  kiss  Frank 
and  Sister  for  me;  Frank  must  kiss 
George  and  Sis  for  Ma;  Sis  must  kiss 
George  and  Frank  for  Brune.  Do  not 
forget.  Good-night!"  This  is  an  ex- 
ample of  his  loving  letters  to  his  absent 
children.  Could  good  children  fail  to 
love  with  deepest  affection  such  a  father? 
And  it  must  be  remarked  that  when 
with  them  at  home  there  was  the  same 
loving  intercourse.  The  children  were 
never  happier  than  when  the  father  was 
with  them,  and  the  father  never  more 
delighted  than  when  they  pressed  around 
"5 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

him  in  the  home  circle.  He  closes  an- 
other letter,  from  New  York:  "Now,  I 
must  give  you  a  good-night  kiss — one 
for  George,  one  for  Frank,  and  one  for 
dear  little  Sister  Puss.  Ma  says,  'I  must 
send  ever  so  many  for  her,  and  Bruner 
for  him,  and  Willie  for  him.'  " 

Mr.  Cookman's  letters,  written  to  his 
wife,  while  engaged  in  the  Christian 
Commission,  during  the  war,  breathe  the 
same  loving  spirit  and  tender  care  for 
wife  and  children,  and  a  firm  trust  in 
God  that  all  would  work  for  good  to 
the  bondman  and  the  nation. 

These  utterances  of  Alfred  Cookman 
must  convince  all  that  he  was  an  affec- 
tionate husband,  and  tender,  loving 
father,  and  that  these  strong  domestic 
ties  were  dominated  by  supreme  love 
to  God. 

THE  PRESENT  STATE  OF  THE  FAMILY. 

Seven    children    survived    the    father, 
four  sons  and  three  daughters.    Two  of 
116 


Alfred  Cookman,  a  Model  Family  Man. 
i 

the  number  have  since  joined  the  father 
in  the  better  land.  Helen,  a  lovely 
daughter  of  eleven  years,  was  the  first 
to  depart.  The  second  was  Alfred,  a 
babe1  of  only  fourteen  months  at  his 
father's  death.  A  graduate  of  the  Wes- 
leyan  University  and  of  the  Medical 
College  of  Philadelphia,  he  had  grown 
to  manhood,  and  had  commenced  the 
practice  of  medicine  in  Philadelphia, 
with  every  prospect  of  success.  He  was 
a  Christian  young  man,  his  mother's 
hope,  and  died  within  a  few  weeks  of 
his  contemplated  wedding. 

There  are  (year  1900)  five  children 
still  living,  three  sons  and  two  daughters. 
The  eldest,  George  Grimston,  is  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  law  in  Philadelphia; 
two  are  in  the  Methodist  ministry — 
Frank  Simpson,  a  member  of  the  New- 
ark Conference,  and  William  Wilber- 
force,  a  member  of  the  Philadelphia 
Conference.  Mrs.  Cookman  resides  with 
her  daughter  Annie  (Mrs.  Schureman 
117 


Lile  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

Halsted),  at  5530  Morris  Street,  German- 
town,  Pa. ;  Mary  (Mrs.  Sigourney  Fay 
Clark),  resides  in  Elizabeth,  New  Jer- 
sey. Miss  Mary  Cookman,  sister  of 
Alfred  Cookman,  is  the  only  survivor 
of  the  family  of  Rev.  George  G.  and 
Mary  Cookman. 

U8 


CHAPTER  IX. 

\ 

A  LOVING  LEADER  OF  THE  NATIONAL 
HOLINESS  MOVEMENT. 

*T*  HE  year  1867  will  always  be  memo- 
A  rable  in  the  history  of  that  movement 
known  as  the  holiness  revival  in  Amer- 
ica, under  the  auspices  of  the  "National 
Association  for  the  Promotion  of  Holi- 
ness." As  a  nation,  we  had  just  emerged 
from  the  most  gigantic  rebellion  the 
world  had  ever  witnessed,  and  the 
Churches,  both  North  and  South,  had 
been  greatly  demoralized  and  sadly 
weakened  spiritually.  Many  a  good 
conscience  had  been  wrecked  by  seiz- 
ing upon  favorable  opportunities  to 
amass  wealth  by  unjustifiable  methods. 
A  few  were  found  who  still  wept  between 
the  porch  and  the  altar. 

Camp-meetings,    which    had    been    a 
great  power  in  early   Methodism,   had 
119 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

so  far  fallen  into  disrepute  that  the 
Church  papers  were  earnestly  discuss- 
ing the  propriety  of  wholly  abandoning 
them. 

The  General  Conference  of  1864  made 
an  earnest  but  mournful  appeal  to  the 
Church,  as  a  "haughty  and  rebellious 
people,"  to  properly  deplore  our  sins, 
"and  let  God,  our  Heavenly  Father,  be- 
hold us  in  tears  and  contrition  before 
his  throne,  pleading  day  and  night, 
through  the  Redeemer,  for  the  outpour- 
ing of  the  Holy  Ghost  upon  the  Church, 
the  nation,  and  the  world."  "This," 
they  say,  "is  our  only  hope."  There  was 
not  only  a  manifest  declension  in  spir- 
ituality, but,  as  is  common  at  such  times, 
there  was  a  growing  opposition  to  the 
subject  of  entire  sanctification.  This 
was  manifest  in  the  pulpit,  the  pew,  and 
at  our  camp-meetings,  until  the  ques- 
tion of  holding  camp-meetings,  where 
the  subject  of  holiness  should  have  the 
right  of  way,  began  to  be  agitated,  by 
ministers  and  laymen.  It  was  finally 

120 


Leader  of  the  Holiness  Movement, 

determined  by  a  few  brethren  to  call  a 
meeting  of  such  ministers  and  laymen 
as  were  favorable  to  holding  a  camp- 
meeting,  the  special  object  of  which 
should  be  the  promotion  of  the  work 
of  entire  sanctification.  Alfred  Cookman 
was  among  the  foremost  men  in  this 
movement.  But  for  his  connection  with 
this  work,  as  one  of  its  prime  movers 
and  supporters,  it  is  doubtful  if  his  name 
would  have  been  as  widely  known.  It 
was  this  which  contributed  largely  to 
give  him  a  national  reputation,  and  ex- 
tend his  influence  world-wide.  He 
signed  the  call  for  the  meeting  to  be 
held  in  Philadelphia,  at  1018  Arch 
Street,  June  I5th,  to  arrange  for  the 
first  National  Camp-meeting.  He  pre- 
pared the  call  for  the  first  meeting, 
which  was  accepted  by  the  brethren,  and 
ordered  to  be  printed. 

The  meeting  in  Philadelphia  brought 
together  a  company  of  strong,  noble 
men.  The  president  was  no  less  a  per- 
son than  the  venerable  Dr.  George  C.  M. 

I2T 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

Roberts,  of  Baltimore,  whose  prayer  at 
the  opening  lifted  all  hearts  to  God.  In 
a  few  chosen  words  he  stated  the  ob- 
ject of  the  meeting,  and  expressed  his 
great  joy  that  he  had  lived  to  see  that 
day,  and  for  the  bright  prospects  be- 
fore them.  The  venerable  Anthony 
Atwood  presented  the  following  resolu- 
tion : 

Resolved,  That  we  hold  a  camp-meeting 
for  the  special  promotion  of  Christian  purity. 

This  elicited  no  discussion,  as  all  were 
agreed.  The  place  selected  for  holding 
the  meeting  was  Vineland,  New  Jersey  ; 
the  time,  July  17,  1867.  The  "Call"  for 
the  meeting,  prepared  and  read  by  Alfred 
Cookman,  was  as  follows  : 


"A  general  camp-meeting  of  the 
friends  of  holiness,  to  be  held  at  Vine- 
land,  Cumberland  County,  N.  J.,  will 
commence  Wednesday,  July  i/th,  and 
close  on  Friday,  26th  instant. 

"We  affectionately  invite  all,  irrespect- 
ive of  denominational  ties,  interested  in 


Leader  of  the  Holiness  Movement. 

the  subject  of  the  higher  Christian  life, 
to  come  together  and  spend  a  week  in 
God's  great  temple  of  nature.  While 
we  shall  not  cease  to  labor  for  the  con- 
viction and  conversion  of  sinners,  the 
special  object  of  this  meeting  will  be  to 
offer  continued  and  united  prayer  for  the 
revival  of  the  work  of  holiness  in  the 
Churches ;  to  secure  increased  wisdom, 
that  we  may  be  able  to  give  a  reason  of 
the  hope  that  is  within  us  with  meekness 
and  fear;  to  strengthen  the  hands  of 
those  who  feel  themselves  comparatively 
isolated  in  their  profession  of  holiness ; 
to  help  any  who  would  enter  into  this 
rest  of  faith  and  love ;  to  realize  together 
a  Pentecostal  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
— and  all  with  a  view  to  increased  useful- 
ness in  the  Churches  of  which  we  are 
members. 

"Come,  brothers  and  sisters  of  the  va- 
rious denominations,  and  let  us  in  this 
forest  meeting  furnish  an  illustration  of 
evangelical  union,  and  make  common 
supplication  for  the  descent  of  the  Spirit 
upon  ourselves,  the  Church,  the  Nation, 
and  the  world." 

The  call  for  such  a  meeting  could  not 
have,  been   more   specific   and   compre- 
hensive, and  in  all  respects  more  cath- 
123 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

olic  and  Christlike.  It  was  such  a  call 
as  could  but  find  a  ready  response  in 
every  Christian  heart. 

Mr.  Cookman  felt  deeply  the  impor- 
tance of  such  a  movement,  for,  writing 
to  a  friend,  he  said :  "You  have  doubt- 
less been  advised  of  our  Vineland  camp- 
meeting  enterprise.  It  is  rather  a  bold 
movement  for  the  friends  of  holiness ; 
but  I  believe  it  is  in  the  order  of  God, 
and .  will  be  accompanied  and  followed 
by  blessed  results.  Associated  with  the 
originators  of  this  enterprise,  I  can 
bear  a  most  emphatic  testimony  to  the 
purity  of  their  motives,  and  the  thought- 
ful care  and  earnest  supplication  to  God 
that  characterized  their  deliberations. 
Indeed,  the  day  we  spent  in  Philadelphia, 
making  arrangements,  was  erne  of  the 
best  days  of  my  life." 

The  meeting  commenced  July  I7th. 
The  morning  was  clear  and  bright. 
Multitudes  from  the  different  denomi- 
nations found  their  way  to  the  camp,  to 
hear  the  gospel  of  holiness.  Alfred 
124 


Leader  of  the  Holiness  Movement. 

Cookman  and  his  family  were  early  In 
their  places.  Rev.  John  S.  Inskip  was 
the  chosen  leader.  The  services  were 
opened  with  singing, 

"There  is  a  fountain  filled  with  blood." 

This  has  been  the  "battle-hymn"  of 
the  holiness  movement  for  the  last 
thirty-two  years.  Mr.  Inskip  led  in 
prayer,  and  the  heavens  seemed  respon- 
sive to  his  petition.  Revs.  Andrew 
Longacre  and  B.  M.  Adams  assisted  fur- 
ther in  the  opening  services.  Several 
addresses  were  delivered,  and  then  an- 
other season  of  prayer,  in  which  Messrs. 
Adams,  Coleman,  and  Alfred  Cookman 
joined.  Few  present  will  forget  Mr. 
Cookman's  prayer.  He  seemed  inspired. 
The  opening  sermon  was  preached  by 
Rev.  J.  W.  Horne,  and  the  closing  ser- 
mon by  Rev.  B.  W.  Gorham. 

Mr.  Cookman's  sermon  on  the  occa- 
sion was  from  i  Thess.  iv,  3 :  "This  is 
the  will  of  God,  even  your  sanctifica- 
tion."  A  special  unction  attended  its 
125 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

delivery.  It  was  clear  and  forceful,  and 
made  a  deep  and  strong  impression.  He 
was  careful  to  set  forth  the  definite  ex- 
perience, in  the  interests  of  which  the 
meeting  was  held.  The  results  of  the 
meeting  far  exceeded  the  most  sanguine 
expectations  of  its  ardent  friends.  Many 
were  sanctified  wholly,  and  large  num- 
bers were  converted.  Among  the  latter 
was  a  wayward  son  of  Bishop  Simpson. 
The  bishop  and  his  family,  including  his 
son  Charles,  were  in  attendance  during 
the  meeting.  The  bishop  had  been 
absent  from  the  ground  during  the  Sab- 
bath, officiating  at  the  opening  of  a 
Methodist  Church.  As  he  returned  to 
the  camp-meeting,  Monday  morning,  he 
was  informed  that  he  was  needed  at  the 
Kensington  tent.  As  he  entered  the  tent, 
he  saw  his  son,  of  many  prayers,  upon 
his  knees  earnestly  seeking  pardon.  He 
made  his  way  through  a  company  of 
sympathizing  friends,  knelt  beside  his 
broken-hearted  boy,  and  with  tearful 
eyes  and  uplifted  hands  prayed  as  only 
126 


Leader  of  the  Holiness  Movement 

a  Christian  father  can  pray  for  a  peni- 
tent son.  The  whole  company  were 
melted  and  moved  with  deepest  sym- 
pathy. Charles  was  converted.  A  few 
months  later  that  son  lay  sick  unto 
death.  A  little  time  before  he  departed, 
turning  to  his  weeping  mother,  he  said, 
"Mother,  I  shall  thank  God  to  all  eter- 
nity for  the  Vineland  camp-meeting." 
It  was  to  this  death-scene  the  bishop 
referred  at  Alfred  Cookman's  funeral, 
when  he  said,  "He  stood  by  the  dying 
bed  of  one  I  loved,  and  his  words  and 
counsels  were  those  of  a  Christian  min- 
ister." 

Of  Alfred  Cookman's  relation  to  the 
National  Camp-meeting  Association, 
Dr.  H.  B.  Ridgaway  says,  "Whatever 
may  be  said  of  the  merits  of  the  issue 
involved  in  the  National  Camp-meeting 
Association,  it  is  certain  that  Mr.  Cook- 
man  was  fully  committed  to  its  support, 
and  was  in  strict  accord  with  its  pur- 
pose." So  strongly  did  he  press  the 
necessity  of  this  work,  that  brethren, 
127 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

more  or  less  conservative,  knowing  his 
constitutional  cautiousness,  were  them- 
selves greatly  inspired  to  action  by  his 
great  boldness. 

At  a  meeting  of  those  who  signed  the 
call  for  the  Vineland  meeting,  for  the 
purpose  of  considering,  among  other 
things,  the  question  of  holding  another 
meeting  in  1868,  Mr.  Cookman  earnestly 
supported  the  measure.  And  through 
his  special  efforts  Manheim,  instead  of 
Round  Lake,  was  selected  as  the  place 
of  meeting,  because  of  his  interest  in  the 
locality.  In  that  memorable  meeting 
the  "National  Camp-meeting  Associa- 
tion for  the  Promotion  of  Holiness"  was 
formed.  The  brethren  knelt,  Brother 
Cookman  prayed.  Those  who  were 
present  speak  of  that  wonderful  prayer. 
He  prayed  as  if  a  great  battle  was  near, 
and  that  victory  could  only  be  secured 
through  the  leadership  of  the  "Captain 
of  our  Salvation,"  the  Lord  of  Hosts. 
The  Association  was  formed,  and  all  the 
business  of  the  meeting  transacted 
128 


Lender  of  the  Holiness  Movement. 

while  the  brethren  were  yet  upon  their 
knees. 

MANHEIM. 

ihe  National  Camp-meeting  at  Man- 
heim,  Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania, 
commenced  July  14,  1868.  Many  thought 
it  not  the  most  favorable  locality  for 
such  a  meeting,  but  through  the  urgent 
efforts  of  Alfred  Cookman,  who  claimed 
to  be  familiar  with  the  country,  the 
brethren  consented.  It  is  true,  the 
weather  was  oppressively  hot,  the  water 
was  very  scarce  and  miserably  poor,  and 
the  dust  was  almost  blinding,  but  the 
people  seemed  to  care  for  none  of  these 
things.  At  least  twelve  thousand  thirsty 
souls  drank  in  the  Word  of  Life,  which 
fell  from  lips  touched  with  the  fires  of 
Pentecost.  Not  less  than  six  hundred 
tents  sheltered  people  from  nearly  every 
State  in  the  Union ;  not  less  than 
three  hundred  ministers,  including  that 
prince  among  men,  Bishop  Simpson. 
The  Sabbath  was  a  great  day.  The  love- 
9  I29 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman 

feast  was  a  season  never  to  be  forgotten. 
It  was  in  that  memorable  love-feast  that 
Alfred  Cookman  gave  that  never-to-be- 
forgotten  testimony:  "Alfred  Cookman, 
washed  in  the  blood  of  the  Latmb."  It 
was  given  without  any  ostentatious  dis- 
play, and  all  who  knew  him  felt  that  it 
was  true  to  fact.  Bishop  Simpson 
preached  in  the  forenoon,  from  Romans 
viii,  14:  "For  as  many  as  are  led  by 
the  Spirit  of  God,  they  are  the  sons  of 
God."  Many  hearts  were  greatly  moved 
under  that  wonderful  sermon. 

Rev.  J.  S.  Inskip  preached  in  the  after- 
noon in  his  usual  effective  manner. 

Alfred  Cookman  was  the  preacher  for 
the  evening.  He  was  in  his  prime,  and 
the  people  were  expectant.  A  great  vic- 
tory was  anticipated.  He  had  prepared 
a  sermon  for  the  occasion  on  a  certain 
text.  But,  strange  to  say,  text  and  ser- 
mon had  effectually  vanished,  while 
many  thousands  were  anxiously  waiting. 
Nothing  moved  or  disconcerted,  he  com- 
menced calmly  to  talk  to  the  people, 
130' 


Leader  of  the  Holiness  Movement. 

trusting  God  to  give  him  the  message. 
He  proceeded  to  relate  his  personal  ex- 
perience, and  as  he  •  did  so,  the  Spirit 
of  God  came  upon  -the  assembly  with 
unusual  power.  From  the  beginning 
he  had  the  rapt  attention  of  the  people. 
He  became  uncommonly  impressive  and 
earnest.  The  living  mass  before  him 
seemed  to  be  in  his  hands  as  clay  in 
the  hands  of  the  potter,  to  be  melted 
,and  molded  as  God  would  have  them. 
He  dwelt  upon  the  work  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  and  the  work  of  entire  sanctifi- 
cation,  describing  the  manner  in  which 
he  had  been  led  into  the  experience. 
Every  heart  seemed  nigh  to  breaking 
for  the  longing  it  had  for  "the  more 
excellent  way."  The  people  were  pro- 
foundly moved.  Cries  and  groans  were 
heard  on  every  hand.  "Nothing  short 
of  a  Pentecost,"  says  one  who  was 
present,  "seemed  suited  to  the  occasion." 
If  ever  mortal  was  inspired,  Alfred  Cook- 
man  seemed  to  be.  At  the  close  of  his 
address,  he  prayed,  and  who  that  heard 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

that  prayer  can  ever  forget  it!  One 
who  was  present  describes  it  thus :  "For 
awhile  he  pleaded  upon  his  knees.  Then 
he  arose,  and,  standing  upon  his  feet, 
grew  more  and  more  vehement.  His 
hands  were  lifted.  His  voice  in  mighty 
tones  swelled  out  upon  the  night  air. 
Cries  and  groans  of  oppressed  souls 
commingling.  Standing  thus,  with 
hands  upraised,  his  face  toward  the  hill 
from  whence  cometh  help,  his  faith 
grasped  the  promises,  and  he  was  con- 
queror, and  hallelujahs,  like  the  sound 
of  many  waters,  rolled  through  the  forest 
temple."  (Days  of  Power.) 

How  many  souls  were  fully  saved  that 
night  will  not  be  known  till  the  books 
are  opened. 

Mr.  Cookman  threw  his.  soul  into  all 
the  services  of  the  meeting,  and  was 
pressing  the  people  into  the  enjoyment 
of  holiness.  The  Methodist  says :  "None 
who  were  privileged  to  be  present  will 
ever  forget  the  Sunday  evening  when 
Rev.  Alfred  Cookman  led  the  congre- 


Leader  of  the  Holiness  Movement. 

gation  to  God,  and  pressed  upon  them, 
with  his  masterly  and  persuasive  elo- 
quence, the  question  of  true  spiritual 
power  as  connected  with  personal  holi- 
ness, and  in  the  most  fervent  prayer  led 
the  congregation  to  the  cross.  Men  fell 
under  the  mighty  power  of  God  in  all 
parts  of  the  ground.  This  was  only 
equaled  by  the  wonderful  Pentecostal 
season  on  Monday  night." 

The  Monday  night  meeting  at  Man- 
heim  was  an  event  in  itself,  unlike  any- 
thing that  ever  occurred  at  a  national 
meeting.  Rev.  John  Thompson  had 
preached.  Rev.  J.  S.  Inskip  had  ex- 
horted in  an  unusual  manner.  Rev. 
George  W.  Woodruff  knelt  to  pray, 
when  suddenly,  as  a  flash  of  lightning 
from  a  clear  sky,  there  fell  upon  the  peo- 
ple a  power,  and  with  it  came  sponta- 
neous bursts  of  joy  and  groans  and  cries 
for  mercy.  For  one  hour  the  scene  beg- 
gared all  description.  The  people  were 
crying  for  mercy  and  pardon  on  the  one 
hand,  and  for  purity  on  the  other. 
133 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

Scores  were  converted,  and  greater  num- 
bers were  sanctified  wholly.  Men  were 
there  from  other  lands,  and  returned  to 
tell  of  the  Monday  night  at  Manheim 
as  the  most  remarkable  display  of  God's 
power  that  they  had  ever  witnessed.  Its 
sound  went  out  into  all  -the  earth.  We 
were  there  and  know  whereof  we  speak ; 
but  we  can  give  but  a  meager  account 
of  the  scene.  Rev.  John  Thompson,  a 
little  before  he  died,  said,  referring  to 
Manheim :  "I  shall  never  forget,  either 
in  time  or  in  eternity,  especially  I  shall 
always  remember  that  wonderful,  Mon- 
day night  at  Manheim.  That  was  really 
the  night  of  my  life." 

ROUND  LAKE. 

We  next  find  Alfred  Cookman  at 
Round  Lake,  New  York,  July  6,  1869, 
with  zeal  unabated,  intent  on  pressing 
the  subject  of  holiness  with  which  his 
soul  seemed  inflamed.  This  was  a  meet- 
ing far  exceeding  in  numbers  the  Man- 
heim meeting.  The  location  was  in  its 


Leader  of  the  Holiness  Movement, 

favor;  it  had  been  widely  advertised,  if, 
indeed,  it  needed  advertising.  From 
Manheim  a  sound  had  gone  out  into 
nearly  all  the  earth,  and  people  came  as 
on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  not  perhaps 
from  "every  nation  under  heaven,"  but 
representatives  were  there  from  different 
nationalities,  to  see  for  themselves  what 
the  wonderful  movement  meant.  Mr. 
Cookman  preached  on  the  occasion  with 
an  unction  we  will  not  attempt  to  de- 
scribe, from  Ephesians  v,  18,  "Be  filled 
with  the  Spirit."  Every  heart  seemed  to 
be  intensely  longing  for  this  Divine  full- 
ness ;  and  many,  under  that  sermon, 
formed  the  resolution  never  to  rest  until 
they  were  in  possession  of  that  God- 
promised  gift ;  and  many  received  it  then 
and  there,  by  faith  in  Him  who  had 
promised. 

It  was  at  the  Sunday  morning  love- 
feast  at  Round  Lake  that  he  gave  his 
Manheim  testimony,  "Alfred  Cookman, 
washed  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb."  He 
moved  among  the  people  as  a  saint  of 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

God.  All  his  testimonies,  and  exhorta- 
tions, and  personal  conversations,  re- 
vealed the  fact  that  he  was  "dwelling  in 
the  secret  chamber  of  the  Most  High," 
and,  like  Enoch,  was  walking  with  God. 
Of  that  camp-meeting  a  minister  from 
the  city  of  Philadelphia  said :  "I  expect 
to  thank  God  for  it  through  everlasting 
ages.  The  effect  was  Pentecostal."  But 
he  says,  "Never  have  I  seen  such  uni- 
form decorum."  Bishop  Simpson,  who 
was  present,  speaks  of  "being  highly 
pleased  with  its  management."  Alfred 
Cookman  had  charge  of  the  Ministers' 
Meeting  on  the  Sabbath,  and  in  this  was 
greatly  blessed.  God  gave  him  wonder- 
ful access  to  the  'hearts  of  his  ministerial 
brethren.  His  fraternal  spirit,  entire 
freedom  from  an  authoritative  bearing, 
and  his  loving  words,  won  all  hearts.  As 
he  would  say,  "Come,  brothers,  take  my 
hand,  and  let  us  kneel  together,"  it  was 
done  so  sweetly  and  with  such  a  sincere, 
humble  spirit,  that  none  could  resist. 
136 


Leader  of  the  Holiness  Movement. 

Up  to  1870  there  had  been  but  one 
National  camp-meeting  held  each  year; 
but  so  urgent  was  the  demand  from  all 
parts  of  the  land,  that  it  was  resolved 
to  hold  three  meetings  in  1870:  at  Ham- 
ilton, Massachusetts ;  Milton  Grove' 
Oakington,  Maryland ;  and  Des  Plaines, 
Illinois. 

HAMILTON. 

The  Hamilton  Camp-meeting  opened 
June  2 1  st.  The  association  was  largely 
represented.  It  was  too  early  in  the" 
season  for  the  latitude  of  New  Eng- 
land, and  the  weather  was  exceedingly 
unpropitious.  But  the  meeting  was  at- 
tended by  a  large  number  of  ministers 
from  all  parts  of  New  England  and  else- 
where. The  large  attendance  of  min- 
isters seemed  a  special  feature  of  the 
meeting.  Mr.  Cookman  was  there  in 
the  very  fullness  of  the  Spirit.  It  was  his 
first  visit  to  New  England ;  but  his  fame 
as  a  holy  man  and  able  preacher  had 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

gone  before  him.  He  was  present  in  all 
the  services,  and  no  man  exerted  a 
greater  influence  than  Alfred  Cookman. 
On  Sunday  evening,  instead  of  preach- 
ing a  sermon,  as  at  Manheim,  he  gave 
an  account  of  his  personal  experience. 
This  produced  a  profound  impression 
upon  the  ministry  and  membership  of 
the  Church.  It  was  a  rainy  evening,  and 
the  crowd  was  not  present.  On  the  fol- 
lowing Tuesday  morning  he  delivered  a 
memorable  sermon  from  i  Thess.  v,  23, 
"The  very  God  of  peace  sanctify  you 
wholly."  It  was  a  clear,  forceful  setting 
forth  of  the  great  doctrine  of  perfect  love, 
and  the  obligations  to  seek  it  now.  The 
effect  of  the  sermon  was  witnessed  in 
the  hundreds  who  thronged  the  altar  and 
filled  all  the  available  space  around  as 
seekers  of  heart  purity,  and  great  num- 
bers found  that  for  which  they  sought. 
Mr.  Cookman's  prayers  during  the 
meeting  were  attended  with  a  power  that 
moved  the  entire  encampment.  Writing 
138 


Leader  of  the  Holiness  Movement, 

to  his  wife  from  Hamilton  of  the  Sab- 
bath, he  says :  "It  was  a  wonderful  Sab- 
bath, certainly  the  best  of  any  we  have 
spent  in  the  woods  as  a  National  Com- 
mittee, and  the  friends  expect  a  sermon 
from  me  to-morrow.  This  meeting,  in 
interest  and  power,  is  a  great  success. 
The  brethren  feel  in  its  impressions  and 
holy  influence  it  is  equal,  or  ahead  of 
Round  Lake." 

139 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  NATIONAL  HOLINESS  MOVEMENT. 

CONTINUED. 
i 

OAKINGTON. 

UR  next  meeting  was  held  at  Oak- 
ington,  Maryland.  Here  Alfred 
Cookman  was  at  home.  He  had  lived 
and  labored  in  the  Churches  in  this  vicin- 
ity, and  knew  the  people.  But  he  en- 
-tered  into  the  work  with  his  accustomed 
earnestness.  The  atmosphere  was  torrid, 
the  shade  poor,  the  water  bad,  making 
it  a  most  unfavorable  location  for  a 
camp-meeting.  But  no  one  would  have 
judged  by  the  spirit  of  the  people  that 
they  felt  these  inconveniences.  On  the 
second  day  Mr.  Cookman  had  charge 
of  the  eight  o'clock  morning  meeting. 
He  called  the  attention  of  the  people  to 
three  questions :  "Does  our  desire  need 
to  be  intensified?  Does  not  our  conse- 
140 


The  National  Holiness  Movement, 

cration  need  to  be  more  perfect  ?  Do  we 
not  look  more  to  ourselves  than  to  the 
blessed  Christ?"  These  points  were  dis- 
cussed in  a  most  impressive  manner. 
Silent  prayer,  for  which  the  National  As- 
sociation in  those  days  was  noted,  fol- 
lowed. Then  Brother  Cookman  led  in 
vocal  prayer.  Many  souls  were  led  into 
the  freedom  of  perfect  love.  After  an  im- 
pressive sermon  by  Dr.  William  Butler, 
Mr.  Cookman  followed  with  a  pointed 
exhortation  and  prayer-meeting,  which 
resulted  in  the  salvation  of  many. 

At  the  Sabbath  love-feast  he  said  :  "As 
at  Manheim  two  years  ago,  so  here  at 
Oakington,  Alfred  Cookman,  washed  in 
the  blood  of  the  Lamb." 

On  Sabbath  evening  he  led  the  public 
service  in  an  earnest  exhortation,  lead- 
ing the  people  most  successfully  into 
fuller  and  richer  fellowship  with  God. 
No  such  day  for  excessive  heat  had  ever 
been  experienced  at  any  National  camp- 
meeting,  and  yet  few  days  ever  witnessed 
greater  displays  of  God's  power  in  the 
141 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cooknian. 

conversion  and  purification  of  souls.  At 
six  o'clock  Monday  evening  Alfred 
Cookman  had  charge  of  the  Ministers' 
Meeting  in  the  tabernacle.  At  the  open- 
ing of  the  service  he  intimated  his  sense 
of  unworthiness  to  lead  his  ministerial 
brethren.  Rev.  John  Thompson  said : 
"Suppose  we  say  that  we  want  you  to 
lead  uss  whither  would  you  lead  us?" 
"I  would  lead  you,"  he  responded,  "di- 
rectly to  the  cross."  At  this  reply  the 
brethren,  coming  from  all  parts  of  the 
tent,  gathered  around  the  leader,  and 
that  great  company  of  ministers  knelt 
together  in  a  solemn,  earnest  prayer  of 
consecration.  Their  hearts  were  melted 
while  Ood  revealed  to  them  his  special 
presence.  Many  testified  to  having  then 
and  there  received  the  assurance  of  full 
salvation.  On  Wednesday  afternoon, 
the  ninth  day  of  the  meeting,  Mr.  Cook- 
man preached  from  Romans  xiii,  14, 
"Put  ye  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 
His  theme  was,  "Sanctified  character  the 
highest  investiture  of  the  soul."  The 
142 


The  National  Holiness  Movement. 

Divine  unction  was  upon  him,  and  the 
congregation  attentively  listened,  were 
deeply  impressed,  and  generally  yielded 
to  the  truth,  and  crowded  to  the  altar 
until  there  seemed  no  more  space  for 
them.  The  glory  of  God  rested  upon 
the  camp.  It  was  estimated  that  not  less 
than  seven  hundred  ministers  were  pres- 
ent at  Oakington,  and  of  the  people  there 
was  no  numbering  them.  Our  space 
does  not  allow  us  to  describe  the  many 
soul-stirring  scenes  which  occurred 
there. 

DBS  PLAINES. 

The  next  meeting  for  the  season  was 
held  at  Des  Plaines,  Illinois,  commenc- 
ing August  9,  1870.  The  National  As- 
sociation was  well  represented.  Many 
representative  men  of  the  West  were 
present.  Dr.  Reid,  of  the  Northwestern 
Christian  Advocate;  Drs.  Bannister,  Ray- 
mond, and  Kidder,  of  Evanston  ;  Profes- 
sor Jaques,  of  Bloomington,  Illinois ; 
Rev.  Hooper  Crews — all  of  whom 
143 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

preached  on  the  occasion.  There  were, 
also,  Dr.  (now  Bishop)  Fowler,  Dr. 
W.  C.  Willing,  and  others,  from  all  parts 
of  the  Northwest.  These  leading  men  in 
Western  Methodism  strictly  observed 
the  movement,  and  gave  their  unquali- 
fied approval  of  all  they  heard  and  saw. 
Aside  from  Rev.  J.  S.  Inskip,  Alfred 
Cookman  attracted  most  attention.  He 
had  charge  of  the  Preachers'  Meeting, 
on  the  second  day  of  the  services.  Dr. 
J.  M.  Reid  and  others  led  in  prayer,  and 
Brother  Cookman  addressed  the  breth- 
ren in  his  usually  impressive  manner, 
and  many  were  helped  in  making  a  com- 
plete surrender  to  Christ.  On  Friday  he 
preached  a  memorable  sermon  from 
Ephesians  v,  23,  "The  very  God  of  peace 
sanctify  you  wholly."  He  dwelt  upon 
that  entire  consecration  which  precedes 
entire  sanctification,  showing  in  what  re- 
spects it  differed  from  that  so-called  con- 
secration made  at  conversion.  The  peo- 
ple were  profoundly  impressed.  We  sat 
upon  the  stand,  and  carefully  noted  the 
144 


The  National  Holiness  Movement. 

impression  made  upon  the  congregation. 
Dr.  Fowler  was  near  us  on  the  stand. 
No  sooner  was  the  sermon  concluded, 
and  an  invitation  given  to  come  to  the 
altar,  than  he,  for  the  first  time,  made  a 
rush,  not  going  down  the  steps,  but 
plunged  down  over  the  front  of  the  plat- 
form, raised  some  three  feet  above  the 
ground,  and  threw  himself  on  his  knees 
in  the  straw.  The  place  was  at  once 
crowded  with  seeking  souls.  It  seemed 
as  if  the  whole  crowd  were  anxious  to 
find  a  kneeling  spot  in  the  inclosure. 
It  would  be  utterly  impossible  for  us  to 
describe  the  scene.  There  was  no  great 
outcry,  nothing  unduly  extravagant  in 
physical  demonstration,  but  a  deep,  all- 
pervading  sense  of  the  presence  of  God. 
The  following  day  Brother  Cookman 
led  the  early  morning  meeting  in  the 
tabernacle.  The  Sabbath  was  a  great 
day.  The  sun  shone  brightly.  From 
five  o'clock  in  the  morning  till  ten  at 
night  the  battle  raged.  Mr.  Inskip 
preached  in  the  forenoon;  Dr.  Reid 
10  145 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

preached  in  the  afternoon ;  and  Alfred 
Cookman  related  his  personal  experience 
in  the  evening.  While  he,  in  an  earnest, 
humble  spirit  told  how  God  led  him  into 
the  fullness  of  love-,  a  solemn  stillness 
reigned  in  the  vast  audience,  the  Holy 
Spirit  made  deep  and  lasting  impressions 
upon  the  souls  of  the  people.  When  an 
invitation  was  given  for  seekers  to  come 
to  the  altar,  hundreds  of  believers  and 
unbelievers  rushed  forward,  filling  all 
the  space  around  the  stand.  A  skeptic 
arose  and  said,  "I  want  the  true  religion, 
the  religion  of  Jesus."  It  was  estimated 
that  not  less  than  one  hundred  were  con- 
verted on  that  Sabbath.  Twenty-five 
children  and  seven  adults  were  converted 
in  the  children's  meeting.  No  such  tri- 
umphs of  grace  had  ever  been  witnessed 
in  the  Northwest. 

'  Tuesday  was  a  marked  day  at  Des 
Plaines.  In  the  forenoon  a  meeting  was 
held  in  which  the  people  were  urged  to 
seek  the  Lord  as  a  present  Savior  from 
sin.  The  altar  was  cleared,  and  an  in- 
146 


The  National  Holiness  Movement, 

vitation  extended  to  all  classes  to  come. 
There  was  a  great  rush.  After  the  altar 
had  been  filled,  twenty-five  rows  of  seats 
were  filled  with  seekers.  It  was  a  most 
wonderful  scene.  For  a  time  silent 
prayer  was  offered.  Then  Brother 
Cookman  broke  forth  in  one  of  his  most 
wonderful  prayers.  The  power  of  God 
was  not  only  on  him,  but  on  the  people. 
For  a  time  he  remained  upon  his  knees ; 
then,  in  his  deep  earnestness,  he  rose  to 
his  feet,  and,  as  at  Manheim,  he  seemed 
to  take  hold  of  God  through  his  prom- 
ises. We  never  witnessed  such  a  scene. 
Great  numbers  in  that  company  found 
the  blessing  of  pardon  and  purity,  and 
went  forth  clothed  and  in  their  right 
mind.  Dr.  Raymond  said :  "I  know  if 
there  is  anything  true  and  good  and 
right  for  man  in  this  life,  it  is  here  in  this 
meeting;  and  if  I  did  not  want  it  more 
than  anything  else,  I  should  not  respect 
myself.  If  there  is  anything  like  heaven 
on  earth,  it  is  under  this  canvas." 

No  language  can  adequately  describe 
i47 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

the  last  night  at  Des  Plaines,  when  more 
than  five  hundred  souls  were  prostrate 
before  God,  pleading  for  personal  salva- 
tion. There  were  at  least  one  thousand 
who  professed  to  have  experienced  the 
blessing  of  perfect  love,  and  not  less  than 
two  hundred  converted. 

Dr.  Reid,  editor  of  the  Northwestern, 
voiced  the  general  sentiment  of  the  peo- 
ple when  he  said :  "The  committee  re- 
pressed with  sedulous  care  all  fanaticism, 
all  wild  shriekings  and  contortions.  Si- 
lence was  a  wonderful  power  with  them, 
the  subdued  song  or  the  unuttered 
prayer,  the  vast  assembly  waiting  on 
God,  just  waiting.  O,  we  shall  never 
forget  it !  Not  a  word  said,  but  every 
heart  open  heavenward,  and  God  pour- 
ing his  blessing  in.  The  meeting  was 
a  blessing,  and  the  committee  won  all 
hearts.  The  mercy-tide  is  higher  on 
these  lake  shores  for  their  coming,  and 
with  the  Churches  we  will  bless  God 
for  ever  and  ever.  Amen." 

Of  the  statement  that  the  Association 
148 


The  National  Holiness  Movement. 

did  not  seek  the  conversion  of  sinners, 
Dr.  Reid  says :  "Notwithstanding  that 
holiness  was  the  prominent  object  of  all 
discourses  and  prayers,  efforts  for  the 
conversion  of  sinners  were  not  neglected. 
We  think  that  not  less  than  one  hundred 
adults  and  more  than  that  number  of 
children  professed  to  receive  a  witness 
of  sins  forgiven  and  adoption  into  God's 
family.  Unless  this  National  camp- 
meeting  differs  from  others,  there  has 
been  some  mistake  in  the  reports  on  this 
subject.  The  results,  in  bringing  souls 
to  Christ,  estimating  no  other  good  that 
was  done,  mark  the  meeting  as  a  signal 
success.  It  has  evidently  marked  an  era 
in  the  religious  experience  of  Northwest- 
ern Methodism,  and  thus  far  there  is  in 
it  great  promise  for  good  and  little  prom- 
ise of  evil." 

A  minister,  writing  to  the  Home  Jour- 
nal, says :  "The  whole  Northwest  is 
ablaze  with  salvation.  Holiness  is  the 
theme  in  every  direction.  The  ministers 
have  gone  home  covered  with  sanctify- 
149 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

ing  power,  and  whole  Churches  are  at 
the  altar  seeking  holiness.  Praise  God 
for  Des  Plaines  camp-meeting!" 

Alfred  Cookman  left  his  stamp  of  holi- 
ness upon  the  Northwest.  They  were 
anxious  that  he  should  come  among 
them.  Writing  to  his  wife  from  Des 
Plaines,  he  says:  "In  the  evening,  as 
usual,  Brother  Alfred  had  to  head  the 
column.  God  helped  me  as  much,  per- 
haps, as  ever  in  my  life,  and  I  trust  great 
good  was  done:  The  whole  ground 
seemed  to  be  a  great  altar,  sinners  and 
unbelievers  down  before  God.  We  think 
it  the  best  Sabbath  of  any  of  our  National 
camp-meetings.  Glory  to  the  Lamb!" 
Of  Monday  night  he  says :  "God  is  pres- 
ent to-night  in  great  power.  The  West 
answers  to  the  East,  and  shouts  holiness 
unto  the  Lord.  The  people  are  very 
kind.  Some  of  them  think  they  must 
have  me  in  the  Northwest,"  etc.  We 
must  turn  from  these  scenes. 

In  1871,  in  consequence  of  a  laborious 
evangelist  trip  to  the  Pacific  Coast,  in- 
150 


The  National  Holiness  Movement. 

eluding  Salt  Lake  City,  it  was  thought 
best  to  hold  but  two  National  camp- 
meetings  ;  one  at  Round  Lake,  and  one 
at  Urbana,  Ohio.  We  may  say  here  that 
Brother  Cookman  expressed  to  the 
writer,  on  the  Sabbath  before  his  death, 
that  it  was  one  of  the  deepest  regrets  of 
his  life  that  he  could  not  accompany  the 
brethren  on  their  tour  to  the  Pacific 
Coast.  "I  would  have  regarded  it,"  he 
said,  "as  the  event  of  a  lifetime." 

The  camp-meeting  at  Round  Lake 
commenced  July  4th.  This  was  our  sec- 
ond meeting  at  Round  Lake.  Alfred 
Cookman  was  there  in  the  fullness  of  the 
Spirit.  His  sermon  on  the  occasion  was 
from 'the  text,  "I  press  toward  the  mark," 
etc.  As  we  look  back  upon  the  scene, 
he  seems  to  have  been  impressed  that 
he  was  doing  his  last  work.  Every  fac- 
ulty of  his  being  seemed  laid  under  con- 
tribution to  press  the  people  into  the  full- 
ness of  God's  great  salvation.  The  peo- 
ple were  greatly  moved  and  signally 
blessed. 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

A  writer,  speaking  of  the  Sabbath 
service,  says :  "Rev.  Alfred  Cookman 
preached  in  the  afternoon  to  one  of  the 
largest  and  most  attentive  audiences  that 
a  camp-meeting  ever  saw." 

A  correspondent  of  the  Troy  Daily 
Times  says :  "At  two  P.  M.,  Rev.  A. 
Cookman,  of  the  Newark  Conference, 
preached  from  Philippians  iii,  14,  'I 
press  toward  the  mark  of  the  prize  of  my 
high  calling.'  The  speaker  claimed  that 
Paul  was  a  man  of  one  idea,  but  that 
idea  was  complete  in  itself.  If  he  made 
tents,  that  was  but  a  part  of  his  religion. 
His  preaching  was  tributary  to  his  idea 
of  holy  living.  He  defined  the  mark  of 
the  prize  as  the  Bible  standard  of  Chris- 
tian excellence,  and  spoke  of  the  evil  of 
a  wrong  standard.  He  spoke  beautifully 
of  the  prize  itself  in  the  final  glorifica- 
tion of  soul  and  body  in  the  likeness  of 
Christ.  It  is  hard  to  do  justice  to  a  dis- 
course which,  with  the  happy  manner  of 
its  delivery,  made  a  deep  impression." 

Mr.  Cookman's  testimony  at  the  love- 
152 


The  National  Holiness  Movement. 

feast  is  described  by  one  present  as  fol- 
lows :  "When  you  were  singing  of  the 
cross  a  few  minutes  since,  I  thought  that 
I  had  drawn  a  circle  around  the  cross, 
and  Jesus  had  lifted  me  up  from  the  foot 
of  the  cross,  and  given  me  a  home  in  his 
heart.  I  am  dwelling  in  the  supreme 
center  of  bliss." 

Although  very  greatly  exhausted  by 
the  labors  of  the  meeting,  at  its  close, 
with  his  sister  Mary  and  a  few  friends, 
he  made  a  visit  to  Saratoga  Springs. 
He  seemed  extremely  happy,  running 
over  with  joy.  On  his  return  to  Round 
Lake,  he  took  his  family  to  Ocean  Grove, 
hoping  that  a  brief  stay  at  the  seaside 
would  soon  restore  him  to  health.  His 
health  had  been  perfect,  and  he  knew 
not  what  it  was  to  rest.  The  second 
National  camp-meeting  had  begun  at 
Urbana,  Ohio,  and  Alfred  scented  the 
battle  from  afar,  and  his  holy  soul  was 
stirred  for  the  conflict.  His  wife,  know- 
ing his  weakness,  ple'aded  witl}  him  not 
to  go.  With  tears  in  her  eyes,  she  said, 
J53 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

"O  Alfred,  you  will  next  go  to  Urbana?" 
"My  dear,"  he  replied,  "it  is  God's  will." 
Knowing  his  weakness  at  Round  Lake, 
none  of  the  brethren  expected  him  at 
Urbana;  but  we  were  delighted  to  see 
him. 

During  the  Urbana  meeting  Alfred 
preached  twice,  and  with  a  pathos  and 
effectiveness  which  was  never  excelled, 
even  by  him.  "Thousands  of  deathless 
spirits,"  says  Rev.  L.  R.  Dunn,  "will 
never  have  the  impression  produced  by 
those  sermons  effaced."  He  preached 
on  Friday  from  "Be  ye  holy."  The  peo- 
ple gave  profound  attention  to  his  words. 
The  second  sermon,  from  "Be  filled  with 
the  Spirit,"  was  delivered  the  following 
Tuesday  morning  to  a  congregation  of 
not  less  than  three  thousand.  Every  eye 
seemed  fastened  upon  the  preacher.  It 
was  his  last  National  camp-meeting  ser- 
mon, and  had  he  known  it  was  his  last, 
he  could  not  have  preached  more  effect- 
ively. HIS  spirit  was  profoundly  moved, 
and  he  poured  out  his  soul  almost  unto 


The  National  Holiness  Movement, 

death  -for  the  salvation  of  the  people. 
The  noon  hour  came,  and  the  bell  an- 
nounced the  dinner  ready  ;  but  not  a  per- 
son left  his  place.  All  seemed  as  if 
chained  to  their  seats  until  the  preacher 
had  concluded  his  discourse,  and  the 
people  dismissed  in  an  orderly  manner. 
It  was  really  the  great  effort  of  his  life — 
great  in  the  searching  truths  uttered, 
great  in  the  spiritual  power  with  which 
the  truth  was  delivered,  great  in  the 
overwhelming  effect  produced  upon  the 
audience  during  its  delivery,  and  great 
in  the  deep,  lasting  impression  made 
upon  that  vast  company.  A  correspond- 
ent to  a  Cincinnati  paper  gives  a  de- 
scription of  the  sermon,  in  which  he 
says :  "His  clear,  ringing  voice  pene- 
trated to  the  remotest  bounds  of  the 
great  square,  and  under  the  influence  of 
his  eloquence  men  stood  motionless  as 
statues.  The  hour  of  twelve  came,  and 
the  gongs  and  dinner-bells  around  the 
inclosure  began  an  interruptive  clangor. 
But  no  person  in  that  congregation  could 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

have  been  tempted  away  by  an  epicurean 
feast.  In  that  moment  there  was  food 
for  the  moral  and  religious  nature  being 
dispensed  with  all  the  liberality  of  elo- 
quence, and  the  wants  of  physical  na- 
ture were  unheeded  in  their  appeals.  An 
imperfect  report  would  utterly  mar  the 
beauty  of  the  speaker's  utterances,  and 
a  perfect  report  would  fail  to  convey  any 
idea  of  the  glowing  eloquence  of  his 
style,  and  the  telling  effect  of  his  pa- 
thetic appeals  to  men  and  women  to  'be 
filled  with  the  Holy  Spirit.'  Your  types 
could  print  the  mere  words ;  but  no  pen- 
power  that  I  know  of  can  clothe  them 
with  the  garb  of  oratory  in  which  they 
trooped  forth  from  the  speaker's  lips,  to 
take  by  storm  the  stubborn  citadel  of 
men's  hearts  and  minds." 

Writing  to  his  wife  from  Urbana,  he 
says :  "Our  meeting  progresses  with  con- 
stantly-increasing interest.  Every  serv- 
ice is  a  signal  victory.  This  afternoon  I 
preached  to  a  large  and  attentive  con- 
156 


The  National  Holiness  Movement. 

gregation  from  the  text,  'Be  ye  holy.' 
God  graciously  strengthened  and  helped 
me,  and  my  friends  say  I  never  had  a 
better  time.  Since  the  sermon  I  am  a 
little  prostrated,  and  my  legs  stiffen  up ; 
but  I  am  getting  on  most  gloriously. 
Sincerely,  I  have  not  been  as  well  for  five 
weeks.  To-morrow  will  be  the  Sabbath. 
I  conduct  the  love-feast  in  the  morning." 
.  .  .  "My  own  soul  is  being  enriched. 
I  want  to  bring  home  a  double  portion 
of  the  Spirit,  and  so  be  furnished  for  a 
blessed  and  successful  campaign  this 
autumn.  .  .  .  And  now  I  must  close 
my  note.  The  forces  are  gathering  for 
a  mighty  battle.  O  for  salvation  in 
floods !  I  will  not  get  back  home  before 
Saturday  night.  And  now,  good-bye. 
The  Lord  bless  and  watch  over  you. 
Kisses  for  children,  love  for  my  friends, 
and  believe  me,  your  devoted  husband." 
It  has  been  truly  said,  the  people  "little 
thought  that  he  was  talking  not  only 
from  his  heart,  but  was  talking  away  his 
i57 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

heart.  The  last  and  best  of  Alfred  Cook- 
man was  condensing  itself  into  sentences 
to  live  and  grow  in  men's  minds  forever." 

At  the  close  of  the  camp-meeting,  Al- 
fred Cookman  returned  to  Ocean  Grove, 
not  to  rest,  for  it  seemed  he  could  not 
rest.  The  "zeal  of  God's  house  was  eat- 
ing him  up."  He  seemed  to  be  con- 
sumed with  desire  to  proclaim  the  won- 
derful love  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  He  spent 
the  Sabbath  at  Ocean  Grove,  and 
preached  from  his  favorite  text,  "Be 
filled  with  the  Spirit."  After  the  Sab- 
bath, instead  of  resting,  he  is  away  to 
Martha's  Vineyard,  and  there  he 
preaches  on  "Be  filled  with  the  Spirit." 
Like  Bishop  Asbury,  he  seems  to  have 
felt  that  he  was  "divinely  commissioned 
to  preach  sanctification  in  every  ser- 
mon." 

On  his  return  from  Martha's  Vine- 
yard he  spent  two  weeks  at  Ocean  Grove, 
and  then  with  his  family  returned  to  his 
home  to  resume  his  pastoral  work. 

October  i8th,  Alfred  Cookman  at- 
158 


The  National  Holiness  Movement. 

tended  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, which  met  in  New  York,  less 
than  one  month  before  his  decease.  He 
was  in  feeble  health ;  but  his  soul  was 
burning  with  desire  to  spread  holiness. 
He  urged  that  at  least  five  National 
camp-meetings  should  be  held  the  com- 
ing year,  pledging  himself  to  be  at  four 
of  them.  His  zeal  knew  no  abatement. 
But  here  his  labors  with  the  National 
Association  ended.  One  month  later  he 
had  reached  the  eternal  camp-meeting 
grounds  on  the  banks  of  the  mystic  Jor- 
dan, from  which  he  could  observe  the 
battle  between  sin  and  holiness  as  it  was 
being  successfully  waged  by  his  asso- 
ciates, many  of  whom  have  since  joined 
him  in  holy  triumph. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE  SUCCESSFUL  PASTOR  AND  PER- 
SUASIVE PREACHER. 

AS  a  faithful  pastor  and  effective 
**  preacher,  Alfred  Cookman  was  emi- 
nently successful.  The  pulpit  seemed  to 
be  hisxthrone,  and  the  pastorate  his  di- 
vinely-appointed vineyard.  He  knew 
how  to  preach  the  gospel,  which  was 
adapted  to  save  sinners  and  build  up  be- 
lievers in  the  faith  of  Christ.  He  was 
always  able  to  "feed  the  flock  of  Christ." 
He  never  failed  to  hold  his  congrega- 
tions and  add  largely  to  their  number. 
The  people  came  to  his  ministry  like 
hungry  sheep  to  a  good  shepherd  to  be 
fed,  and  when  they  asked  "a  fish,  he  did 
not  give  them  a  serpent,"  and  send  them 
empty  away.  Though  not  a  profound 
scholar  himself,  the  most  cultured  heard 
him  with  profit,  and  went  from  his  min- 
160 


Successful  Pastor  and  Persuasive  Preacher. 

istry  rejoicing,  as  from  a  feast  of  fat 
things. 

As  a  pastor,  the  people  became 
strongly  attached  to  him,  and  at  times 
well-nigh  idolized  him.  In  seasons  of 
bereavement  among  his  people,  his 
words  were  always  full  of  sympathy,  and 
he  was  always  able  to  administer  genu- 
ine Christian  consolation.  The  very 
tones  of  his  voice  in  the  prayers  he  of- 
fered on  such  occasions,  drew  him  closer 
and  closer  to  the  hearts  of  his  people. 

Mr.  Cookman  joined  the  Philadelphia 
Conference  in  1848.  He  had  served  the 
Church  at  Attleboro,  and  also  on  Dela- 
ware City  Circuit,  as  a  "supply,"  the  two 
previous  years.  But  on  joining  the  Con- 
ference he  was  appointed  to  the  German- 
town  Circuit,  a  suburb  of  Philadelphia. 

In  1849  ne  was  appointed  to  Kensing- 
ton and  Port  Richmond,  as  a  junior 
preacher  under  Rev.  David  Dailey. 
This,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  the  first 
appointment  which  his  honored  father 
received  on  joining  the  Philadelphia 
ii  161 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

Conference.  The  very  church  in  which 
his  father  so  eloquently  proclaimed  the 
gospel  of  Jesus  now  resounded  with  the 
voice  of  his  equally  devoted  son. 

So  greatly  were  his  services  appreci- 
ated that  he  was  returned  a  second  year, 
with  the  privilege  of  being  allowed  to 
make  a  visit  to  England.  His  venerable 
grandfather  had  urged  his  coming,  and 
Alfred  was  anxious  to  comply  with  his 
grandfather's  wishes.  It  is  not  surpris- 
ing, however,  that  his  good  mother 
should  have  hesitated  to  risk  her  dearest 
earthly  treasure  to  that  treacherous 
ocean  which  had  a  few  years  before  en- 
gulfed husband  and  father.  She  finally 
consented,  and  Alfred  sailed  from  New 
York  in  the  latter  part  of  July,  in  the1 
steamer  Europia.  It  is  enough  to  say 
that  this  visit  was  eminently  satisfactory 
to  Alfred  and  his  English  relatives,  and 
was  ever  remembered  by  him  as  a  bright 
spot  in  his  history.  "Stepney  Lodge," 
Hull,  the  residence  of  his  grandfather, 
was  a  place  of  great  delight  to  our  young 
162 


Successful  Pastor  and  Persuasive  Preacher. 

friend.  The  days  he  spent  in  London 
were  crowded  with  sight-seeing.  He 
visited  the  Wesleyan  Conference,  and 
was  honored  with  a  seat  on  the  platform  ; 
visited  the  British  Museum,  saw  the 
royal  family,  etc.  Having  completed  his 
visit,  he  bade  adieu  to  his  many  relatives 
and  friends,  turned  his  face  homeward, 
and  in  due  time  was  in  labors  abundant 
on  his  charge. 

Alfred  Cookman  was  a  Conference 
preacher  for  twenty-two  years.  During 
that  time  he  was  pastor  of  twelve 
Churches  in  five  different  Annual  Con- 
ferences. The  following  is  a  list  of  his 
appointments  after  he  became  a  member 
of  the  Conference :  1848,  Germantown 
and  Chestnut  Hill;  1849-50,  Kensington 
and  Port  Chester;  1851-2,  West  Chester 
Station ;  1852-3,  Locust  Street,  Harris- 
burg;  1854-5,  Christ  Church,  Pittsburg; 
1857-8,  Green  Street,  Philadelphia; 
1859-60,  Union  Church,  Philadelphia; 
1861-2,  Central  Church,  New  York; 
1863-4,  Trinity,  West  34th  Street,  New 
163  * 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

York;  1865-8,  Spring  Garden  Street, 
Philadelphia;  1868-70,  Grace  Church, 
Wilmington,  Delaware;  1871,  Central 
Church,  Newark,  N.  J. 

It  will  be  observed  that  Alfred  was 
stationed  five  times  in  Philadelphia, 
twice  in  New  York  City,  once  in  Harris- 
burg,  once  in  Pittsburg,  once  in  Wil- 
mington, Del.,  and  finally  in  Central 
Church,  Newark,  N.  J.  These  Churches 
included  at  the  time  some  of  the  best 
Churches  in  Methodism. 

Mr.  Cookman's  labors  on  the  German- 
town  Circuit  were  marked,  it  is  said,  by 
"fidelity  to  duty,  and  all  his  exercises 
were  indications  of  the  future  successes 
which  were  destined  to  crown  his  min- 
istry." 

A  lady,  writing  of  the  pleasant  "mem- 
ories" of  Alfred  Cookman,  as  she  knew 
him  on  the  Delaware  City  Circuit,  which 
he  traveled  the  year  before  he  became  a 
,  member  of  the  Conference,  says :  "To 
all  classes  of  this  population  young 
Cookman  came  as  a  messenger  of  life. 
164 


Successful  Pastor  and  Persuasive  Preacher. 

His  young  heart  burned  with  love  of 
souls.  He  went  from  his  closet  to  the 
pulpit,  and  thus  panoplied  with  power,  it 
is  no  marvel  that  the  multitudes  which 
from  Sabbath  to  Sabbath  hung  upon  the 
earnest  pleadings  of  his  eloquent  lips 
for  their  salvation,  regarded  him  as  a 
royal  ambassador  from  the  Court  of  the 
Most  High."  (Mrs.  L.  A.  Battershall.) 
The  same  writer  declares  that,  notwith- 
standing "  his  rich  endowment  by  nature 
with  a  genial  spirit  and  an  ease  of  grace 
and  manner  fitting  him  to  shine  as  the 
center  of  the  social  circle,  yet  she  never 
knew  him  betrayed  into  levity  unbe- 
coming a  minister  of  the  gospel  of 
Christ." 

In  the  spring  of  1851,  on  his  return 
from  England,  he  was  married,  and  at 
the  next  Conference,  a  few  weeks  later, 
was  appointed  to  the  charge  of  West 
Chester  Station,  about  thirty  miles  from 
Philadelphia.  It  was  an  old  Quaker 
town,  with  a  Methodist  Church  limited 
in  numbers  and  wealth,  but  greatly  en- 
165 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

couraged  with  the  prospect  of  having  the 
eloquent  and  popular  Cookman  and  his 
youthful  bride.  Everything  was  done 
to  make  them  comfortable  and  happy. 
His  fame  had  preceded  him,  and  from  his 
first  Sabbath  the  people  were  attracted  to 
his  public  ministrations.  His  church 
was  crowded,  not  only  by  Methodists 
and  those  who  were  in  sympathy  with 
them,  but  even  the  elite  of  the  community 
were  attracted  to  his  church,  and  were 
delighted  and  profited.  The  Quakers 
were  greatly  charmed  by  the  spirit  which 
pervaded  his  sermons  "and  the  godly 
simplicity  of  his  manners."  He  was  the 
leading  spiritual  teacher  in  the  commu- 
nity. As  the  days  and  weeks  passed,  his 
influence  grew  more  and  more,  until  his 
ascendency  over  the  hearts  and  minds 
of  the  people  exceeded  in  a  short  time 
that  of  any  former  minister  in  many 
years. 

Mr.  Cookman's  success  in  this  charge 
may  be  inferred  from  these  facts :  He 
found   the   church   embarrassed   with   a 
1 66 


Successful  Pastor  and  Persuasive  Preacher, 

debt  of  three  thousand  dollars,  of  ten 
years'  standing,  and  much  in  need  of  re- 
pairs. The  membership  was  small,  only 
one  hundred  and  fifty-two,  and  they  with 
little  means.  He  reported  at  the  close 
of  his  first  year  one  hundred  and  seventy 
members  and  seventy-five  probationers. 
At  the  close  of  the  second  year  he  re- 
ported two  hundred  and  twenty-five 
members  and  twenty-six  probationers.  In 
the  meantime  he  had  paid  off  the  entire 
debt,  and  put  the  church  in  excellent 
condition.  "The  church,"  it  is  said,  "was 
always  full  when  Brother  Cookman 
preached."  "He  was  popular  in  other 
Churches  as  in  his  own.  Everybody 
loved  him,  and  spoke  of  him  as  the 
lovely,  eloquent  Cookman."  This  same 
writer  says :  "It  is  fair  to  state  that 
Brother  Cookman  gave  an  impulse  to 
Methodism  in  West  Chester  such  as  it 
had  never  had,  and  we  still  enjoy  the 
benefits  thereof.  It  is  difficult  to  decide 
which  was  the  stronger  attraction  for 
the  people,  his  unassuming  piety  and 
167 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

sweet,  loving  spirit,  or  his  thrilling  elo- 
quence that  so  enchained  the  multi- 
tudes." 

In  1853,  Mr.  Cookman  was  ^stationed 
in  Harrisburg,  the  capital  of  the  State. 
He  at  once  made  himself  felt  in  his  new 
field.  Locust  Street  received  him  with 
enthusiastic  delight,  and  very  soon  his 
eloquent  pulpit  efforts  attracted  general 
attention.  When  the  Legislature  as- 
sembled, his  church  being  conveniently 
located,  the  members  and  visitors  of  that 
body  were  attracted  to  it.  He  was 
elected  chaplain  of  the  House  of  Dele- 
gates, was  selected  to  offer  prayer  at  the 
inauguration  of  the  governor,  and 
seemed  to  hold  a  position  far  in  advance 
of  what  might  have  been  expected  of  a 
youth  of  twenty-five  years. 

Mr.  Cookman  remained  in  Harrisburg 
two  years.  Under  his  ministry  the  so- 
ciety prospered.  The  Church  had  gained 
in  membership  in  the  two  years  ninety 
members  and  seventy  probationers,  while 
its  financial  and  social  standing  had  in- 
168 


Successful  Pastor  and  Persuasive  Preacher. 

creased  proportionately.  Alfred  Cook- 
man's  preaching  at  this  time  is  repre- 
sented as  "replete  with  sublime  thoughts 
and  beautiful  illustrations."  It  is  said 
that  "one  secret  of  Mr.  Cookman's  popu- 
larity and  success  as  a  preacher  was  that 
his  sermons  were  all  good,  and  that  what- 
ever emergency  called  him  forth,  he  had 
a  peculiar  faculty  of  happily  adapting  his 
discourse  to  the  occasion."  "We  like  his 
sermons,"  said  one,  "on  account  of  their 
freshness,  originality,  and  the  thorough- 
'ness  and  the  earnestness  with  which 
they  are  delivered.  For  a  young  man 
he  is  a  speaker  of  superior  ability." 

It  was  about  this  time  that  Alfred 
Cookman  entered  the  field  as  a  lecturer, 
and  received  many  commendations  from 
the  public  press.  "The  Bible"  was  his 
favorite  subject,  especially  in  his  earlier 
ministry.  He  delivered  a  lecture  at  Har- 
risburg  on  this  subject,  his  theme  being, 
"The  Bible  is  the  basis,  the  bond,  the 
bulwark,  and  the  boast  of  our  free  insti- 
tutions." He  was  invited  to  deliver  the 
169 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

annual  sermon  before  "The  Society  of 
Evangelical  Inquiry  of  Dickinson  Col- 
lege." The  sermon  was  not  only  well 
received ;  but  it  is  said  to  have  estab- 
lished the  preacher's  high  reputation 
among  the  students." 

About  this  time  Mr.  Cookman  deliv- 
ered a  lecture  in  Philadelphia  before  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  on 
"Concentrated  Energy  as  a  Prerequisite 
to  Success  and  Distinction  in  any  Pur- 
suit in  Life."  He  is  reported  as  possess- 
ing a  "style  clear  and  perspicuous,  and' 
at  the  same  time  brilliant  and  ornate. 
His  voice,  which  is  perfectly  under  his 
control,  is  remarkably  distinct,  musical, 
and  sonorous,  and  his  manner  of  delivery 
is  highly  oratorical  and  effective.  Mr. 
Cookman,  although  quite  a  young  man, 
has  already  won  for  himself  an  enviable 
reputation."  On  his  leaving  Harrisburg, 
one  of  the  papers  said  :  "He  was  popular 
with  all  classes  and  all  denominations,, 
and  his  departure  is  universally  re- 
gretted." 

170 


Successful  Pastor  and  Persuasive  Preacher. 

In  1855,  Cookman  was  transferred  to 
the  Pittsburg  Conference,  and  stationed 
at  Christ  Church,  Pittsburg,  Pa.  A  new 
Methodist  church,of  Gothic  architecture, 
had  been  erected  at  Pittsburg;  it  was  at 
that  time  the  costliest  edifice  in  Amer- 
ican Methodism,  and  Alfred  Cookman, 
a  youth  of  twenty-seven  years,  was  se- 
lected as  its  pastor.  It  was  a  heavy  re- 
sponsibility to  assume,  and  he  was  not 
unmindful  of  what  it  involved.  But  it 
was  soon  evident  to  all  that  no  more  ap- 
propriate choice  could  have  been  made. 
Though  young  in  years,  he  was  not 
wanting  in  experience.  He  proved  him- 
self to  be  a  man  of  courage  as  well  as 
caution. 

As  a  preacher,  it  was  true  that  his 
power  to  attract  and  hold  the  people  in 
a  great  city  was  to  be  tested.  But  his 
ability  was  at  once  recognized,  and  his 
church,  though  having  the  disadvantage 
of  being  a  "pewed"  church,  was  speed- 
ily filled.  He  was  in  all  respects  a  suc- 
cess, even  in  the  forming  period  of  this 
171 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

important  Church.  Though  a  transfer, 
and  that  to  the  leading  Church  in  the 
Conference,  Mr.  Cookman  was  received 
cordially  by  the  preachers  of  the  Con- 
ference from  the  first.  They  gave  him 
their  love  and  confidence. 

Mr.  Cookman's  success  at  Christ 
Church  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact 
that  at  the  close  of  the  first  year  he  re- 
ported to  the  Conference  an  increase 
from  ninety  to  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
two  members,  and  twenty-six  proba- 
tioners. He  had  collected  for  missions 
$738,  and  $300  for  the  Bible  cause,  ex- 
ceeding by  far  all  former  contributions. 

At  the  ensuing  Conference  Mr.  Cook- 
man was  selected  to  make  a  missionary 
address,  in  connection  with  Dr.  J.  P. 
Durbin.  It  is  said  that  these  two  men 
"electrified  the  audience."  One,  in  de- 
scribing the  meeting,  says  they  "were 
two  of  the  most  powerful  speakers  to 
which  it  has  ever  been  my  privilege  to 
listen."  The  same  writer  says :  "Cook- 
man is  a  gifted  son  of  eloquence,  and 
172 


Successful  Pastor  and  Persuasive  Preacher. 

nature  has  given  him  a  most  exuberant 
fancy.  His  speeches  abound  in  the  most 
gorgeous  imagery,  and  in  this  respect  he 
is  said  to  resemble  his  distinguished 
father."  "Mr.  Cookman's  speech  might 
be  said  to  abound  in  lightning  flashes  of 
genius,  which  Dr.  Durbin  followed  in 
one  continued  thunder-roll  of  ponderous 
thought." 

The  same  writer,  speaking  of  Mr. 
Cookman's  Sabbath  sermon  in  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  says :  "We  would  as 
soon  think  of  daguerreotyping  the  storm, 
or  with  a  feeble  voice  of  imitating  the 
roar  of  thunder,  as  to  undertake  to  con- 
vey to  our  readers  the  impression  made 
by  Cookman's  sermon.  Certain  we  are 
that  of  all  who  heard  it,  no  one  will  for- 
get it." 

There  is  no  doubt  that  Mr.  Cook- 
man's youthful  appearance  contributed 
to  the  enthusiasm  with  which  his  efforts 
were  received ;  but  back  of  all  this  there 
must  have  been  real  worth.  He  seemed 
to  do  everything  for  the  Lord  Jesus, 
173 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

and  to  do  it  with  all  his  strength.  He 
seems  to  have  kept  his  all  upon  God's 
altar,  ready  for  sacrifice  or  service.  At 
the  close  of  >  his  first  sermon  in  Christ 
Church,  from  the  text,  Galatians  vi,  14, 
"God  forbid  that  I  should  glory,  save 
in  the  cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ," 
a  brother,  a  member  of  the  Church,  was 
asked,  on  coming  out,  what  he  thought 
.of  the  sermon.  "Ah,"  said  he,  "there 
is  no  German  silver  about  that — it  has 
the  true  ring  of  the  genuine  metal." 
"His  whole  work  in  Pittsburg,"  says  one, 
"was  admirable  in  every  way.  .  .  . 
He  was  in  every  sense  a  Methodist,  but 
he  was  not  a  narrow  denominationalist ; 
and,  above  all,  he  had  nothing  in  his 
heart  to  keep  him  from  rejoicing  in  the 
success  of  another's  work."  "The  more 
I  knew  him,"  says  one,  "the  more  I 
loved  him.  He  walked  with  God." 

On  Mr.  Cookman's  leaving  Pittsburg, 
a  daily  city  paper  speaks  of  his  work 
thus :  "Rev.  Alfred  Cookman  has  been 
with  us  two  years,  yet  in  that  short  time 


Successful  Pastor  and  Persuasive  Preacher. 

he  has  indelibly  impressed  us  with  his 
sincerity  as  a  Christian,  his  worth  as  a 
gentleman,  and  his  ability  as  a  pulpit 
orator.  To  his  value  as  a  Christian, 
his  life  and  zeal  in  the  cause  he  assumes 
testifies.  Of  his  worth  as  a  gentleman, 
the  many  and  warm  attachments  formed 
during  his  short  residence  with  us  are 
the  assurances.  Of  his  ability  as  an 
orator,  the  large  and  discriminating 
audiences  which  have  attended  him  are 
the  very  best  evidences."  He  left  the 
city  with  his  family  at  midnight.  But 
even  at  this  unseasonable  hour  the 
friends  were  so  much  attached  to  him, 
and  the  feeling  so  intense  at  parting 
with  him,  that  they  formed  a  procession, 
and  accompanied  him  and  his  family 
to  the  station,  where  they  bade  them  an 
affectionate  adieu  as  they  took  the 
train  for  Philadelphia. 

In  1857,  Cookman  was  transferred 
back  to  the  Philadelphia  Conference,  at 
the  request  of  the  Conference,  and  sta- 
tioned at  Green  Street,  Philadelphia. 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

Green  Street  Church  was  new,  the  seats 
were  free,  and,  located  in  the  midst  of 
a  dense  population,  it  was  well  adapted 
to  a  preacher  of  the  popular  talent  that 
Mr.  Cookman  had  the  reputation  of  pos- 
sessing, and  really  did  possess.  Dr. 
H.  B.  Ridgaway,  speaking  of  Mr.  Cook- 
man's  two  years'  pastorate  at  Green 
Street  Church,  says,  "It  is  doubtful  if 
Philadelphia  Methodism  has  known  in 
its  whole  history  a  pastoral  term  of  two 
years  more  signally  fraught  with  proofs 
of  Divine  favor  and  the  stable  results 
of  evangelical  ministrations  than  those 
of  our  friend  at  Green  Street."  He 
further  declares  that  the  "scenes  under 
his  preaching — the  perpetual  blaze  of 
revival,  the  marked  cases  of  conversion 
and  sanctification — were  more  like  the 
occurrences  of  primitive  Methodism,  and 
showed  conclusively  that  the  ancient 
glory  had  not  departed  from  the  sons  of 
the  fathers." 

Let  it  be  remembered  that  at  the  close 
pf  his  second  year  he  reported  no  less 
176 


Successful  Pastor  and  Persuasive  Preacher. 

than  seven  hundred  members,  and  one 
hundred  and  fourteen  probationers — two 
hundred  and  thirty-five  net  gain.  It  is 
true  that  this  increase  took  place  in  1857 
and  1858,  during  the  great  awakening. 
But  Alfred  Cookman  was  the  man  to 
take  advantage  of  this  spirit  of  almost 
universal  awakening,  and  press  sinners 
to  Christ.  It  will  be  remembered  that 
it  was  while  at  Green  Street  he  re- 
ceived a  most  satisfactory  renewal  of 
the  blessing  of  entire  sanctification, 
which  for  years  he  had  failed  to  enjoy. 
He  says,  ten  years  later,  "Eternal  praises 
to  my  long-suffering  Lord,  ten  years 
have  elapsed  since,  as  pastor  of  Green 
Street  Church,  in  the  city  of  Philadel- 
phia, I  again  carefully  and  fully  dedi- 
cated my  all  to  God ;  the  consecration 
included,  of  course,  the  doubtful  indul- 
gence" (tobacco.)  Dr.  Ridgaway  says  : 
''The  tobacco  test  was  for  himself  alone ; 
the  use  of  tobacco  was  in  his  way.  He 
did  not  pretend  to  raise  it  as  a  test 
for  any  one  else."  We  can  not  believe 
12  177 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

that  Alfred  Cookman  would  care  to  have 
the  matter  put  in  this  form.  It  is  true 
that  he  did  not  denounce  those  who  in- 
dulged in  the  use  of  tobacco  as  sinners 
above  all  men  because  they  did  such 
things.  But  he  did  not  believe  that  an 
enlightened  Christian  could  practice 
smoking  or  chewing  tobacco  and  enjoy 
the  blessing  of  entire  sanctification. 
From  what  we  know  of  Mr.  Cookman's 
teachings  on  this  subject,  we  are  sure 
we  state  his  exact  views.  Let  no  one 
say  that  "if  so  holy  a  man  as  Alfred 
Cookman  did  not  object  to  the  use  of 
tobacco,  then  I  may  use  it."  He  did 
object  to  the  use  of  tobacco,  and  his 
whole  spiritual  nature  revolted  at  the 
idea  of  a  man  claiming  to  be  pure  in 
heart,  and  still  held  by  the  power  of  this 
habit. 

A  new  light  had  fallen  upon  him,  and 
a  new  power  possessed  him,  and  from 
this  time  until  he  "swept  through  the 
gates,  washed  in  the  blood  of  the  Lanib," 
"heart  purity"  was  his  theme.  His  ablest 
178 


Successful  Pastor  and  Persuasive  Preacher. 

sermons  were  from  this  time  on  this 
subject.  "His  whole  being  was  per- 
meated with  its  unction ;  at  home  or 
abroad,  in  the  pulpit  or  the  social  cir- 
cle, in  the  study  or  by  the  seashore,  at 
the  altar  of  prayer  or  by  the  sick-bed, 
the  instinct  of  his  soul,  the  atmosphere 
of  his  life  was  holiness  unto  the  Lord." 

It  was  during  his  ministry  at  Green 
Street  that  his  brother  George,  often 
referred  to  in  these  pages,  was  converted, 
and  became  an  honored,  worthy  member 
of  the  Church.  He  was  a  man  of  deep 
piety  and  an  earnest  worker.  His 
career  was  short,  but  he  lived  and  died 
well.  Nothing  in  Alfred's  ministry  gave 
him  greater  joy  than  the  salvation  of 
his  most  dearly-loved  brother  George. 
An  intelligent  member  of  the  Green 
Street  Church  was  asked  by  a  member 
of  the  Conference  what  was  the  secret 
of  Cookman's  success.  His  answer  was, 
"His  evident  desire  to  do  the  people 
good." 

.The  next  appointment  of  Alfred 
179 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

Cookman  was  the  Union  Church,  on 
Fourth  Street,  Philadelphia.  This  was 
in  1859.  It  was  the  oldest  Methodist 
Church  in  the  city,  except  St.  George. 
It  was  located  in  the  business  portion 
of  the  city.  But  notwithstanding  all 
these  disadvantages,  it  was  even  then 
regarded  as  a  strong  Church.  There 
were  many  influential  families  connected 
with  the  Church;  but  they  came  from 
a  distance,  preferring  to  remain  with 
the  old  rather  than  connect  themselves 
with  new  organizations.  The  popularity 
of  Mr.  Cookman  was  soon  felt  in  the 
increase  of  the  congregations.  It  is 
said  by  one  of  the  leading  members  of 
the  Church,  "Mr.  Cookman  was  re- 
ceived at  Union  with  open  arms  and 
open  hearts."  This  was  the  Church- 
home  of  his  honored  mother,  who  now 
received  the  Word  of  God  with  glad- 
ness from  lips  she  had  taught  to  lisp 
the  name  of  Jesus.  Here,  too,  was  his 
bosom  friend,  Rev.  Andrew  Longacre, 
now  laid  aside  by  feeble  health.  Here, 
180 


Successful  Pastor  and  Persuasive  Preacher. 

also,  was  Mrs.  John  Keen,  in  whose 
home  a  meeting  for  "holiness;"  which 
had  been  established  by  her  mother,  was 
the  rallying  point  for  the  lovers  of  holi- 
ness. It  seemed  almost  an  Eden  to 
Alfred,  who  had  so  recently  regained  his 
lost  blessing,  and  gloried  in  its  posses- 
sion. Some  idea  of  his  power  as  a 
preacher  at  this  time  may  be  gathered 
from  a  report  of  a  sermon  preached  at 
Penn's  Grove  Camp-meeting,  New  Jer- 
sey, by  his  friend,  Andrew  Longacre. 
His  text  was,  "Thy  will  be  done."  Mr. 
Longacre  says:  "The  collection  pre- 
ceded the  sermon,  and  it  left  the  congre- 
gation a  good  deal  unsettled.  But  at 
the  first  sound  of  his  voice  all  was 
hushed  into  attention,  and  the  whole 
vast  throng  was  bathed  in  tears.  Peo- 
ple wept  aloud,  and  preachers  crowded 
the  stand  and  the  passers-by  on  the 
edge  of  the  circle.  Near  me  was  seated 
a  traveling  preacher  of  the  Hicksite 
Friends.  He  had  been  restless  at  first, 
but  gradually  seemed  subdued  by  the 
181 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

power  of  the  preacher,  until  at  the  con- 
clusion he  stood  up  aind  cried  with  a 
loud  voice,  as  if  yielding  to  the  constrain- 
ing influence  of  the  Spirit,  'We  have 
heard  the  gospel  preached  in  demonstra- 
tion of  the  Spirit  and  power.'  We  went 
to  the  tables  right  after  the  service,  but 
for  many  minutes  those  at  the  table 
could  not  eat.  We  sat  looking  at  each 
other,  and  weeping  tears  that  could  not 
be  controlled." 

In  this  spirit  Alfred  Cookman 
preached  and  labored  to  win  men  to 
God,  not  counting  any  sacrifice  too 
great  that  he  might  finish  his  course 
with  peace,  and  the  ministry  committed 
to  him. 

182 


CHAPTER  XII. 
PASTOR  AND  PREACHER.  CONTINUED. 

ALFRED  COOKMAN'S  term  of 
•^  service  closed  at  the  Union  Church 
in  the  spring  of  1861.  The  unprece- 
dented wave  of  revival  influence  which 
made  his  ministry  at  Green  Street  such 
a  remarkable  success  had  passed,  and 
no  such  results  could  have  been  rea- 
sonably expected  at  the  Union.  But  his 
ministry  was  not  wanting  in  fruitage. 
Many  were  added  to  the  Church,  but 
it  was  more  gradual.  The  additions 
were  in  small  numbers. 

But  the  time  had  come  for  his  re- 
moval, and  the  calls  for  his  services 
were  numerous.  Among  them  came  an 
urgent  petition  from  New  York  City, 
and  in  response  to  this  call  he  was 
transferred  to  the  New  York  Confer- 
ence, and  stationed  at  Central  Church, 
183 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

on  Seventh  Street,  New  York  City. 
This  Church  seemed  to  have  a  special 
claim  upon  him.  It  was  the  same  so- 
ciety which  had,  in  1841,  secured  the 
services  of  his  honored  father  when  he 
should  return  from  England.  It  is  not 
surprising  that  they  should  now  seek 
the  services  of  his  noble  son,  who  was 
standing  in  the  front  ranks  of  the  suc- 
cessful ministers  of  the  Church.  Mr. 
Cookman's  first  year  at  Central  Church 
was  the  year  of  the  outbreak  of  the 
Rebellion,  and  was,  in  all  respects,  a 
most  trying  time.  The  war  spirit  seemed 
to  dominate  all  other  interests.  The 
whole  land  seemed  a  military  camp.  The 
Sabbath  was  mainly  neglected,  and  amid 
such  scenes  it  is  no  wonder  that  churches 
were  deserted,  congregations  limited, 
and  the  revival  spirit  repressed.  But 
this  state  of  things  did  not  long  con- 
tinue. After  the  first  blaze  of  Northern 
patriotism  had  spent  its  force,  the  people, 
finding  that  war  liad  become  a  matter 
of  fact,  a  real,  stern  reality,  and  that 
184 


Pastor  and  Preacher. 

it  was  not  all  victory,  but  at  times 
signal  defeat,  began  to  return  to  the 
churches.  It  was  felt  that  an  appeal  to 
God  for  help  was  a  necessity.  Then 
the  churches  were  again  filled. 

In  the  midst  of  these  conflicts,  Al- 
fred Cookman  stood  his  ground.  His 
sermons  were  full  of  patriotism,  but 
Christ  was  made  the  one  central  thought. 
His  heart  was  in  fullest  sympathy  with 
the  North  in  its  struggles  against  the 
slave  power,  and  in  his  sermons  and 
speeches  he  sought  to  keep  alive  in  the 
hearts  of  the  people  faith,  first  in  God, 
and  then  faith  in  the  American  Re- 
public. 

Mr.  Cookmari's  voice  was  soon  heard 
in  the  Fulton  Street  noonday  prayer- 
meeting.  No  one  was  more  welcomed 
than  he. 

It  was  natural  that  Alfred  Cookman 
should  early  become  interested  irt  the 
Sing  Sing  camp-ground.  He  writes  to 
his  wife,  who,  with  the  children,  was 
at  her  father's  home  in  Columbia,  Pa., 
185 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

while  he  had  been  at  Sing  Sing:  "We 
had  a  glorious  work.  O,  I  can  never 
forget  it!  The  camp  has  been  only 
outside  of  heaven  itself.  Meetings  pow- 
erful and  blessed."  Speaking  of  his 
sermon  at  the  camp-meeting,  he  says : 
"In  the  evening  your  poor,  unworthy 
husband  preached  on  'Redeeming  the 
time.'  O,  how  much  oppressed  in  view 
of  my  fearful  responsibility !  But,  glory 
to  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost, 
Divine  strength  was  made  perfect  in  my 
weakness,  and  I  think  that  never  have 
I  preached  so  much  in  the  demonstra- 
tion of  the  Spirit.  Sinners  were  smitten 
on  the  right  hand  and  on  the  left.  The 
altar  and  tents  were  occupied  with  peni- 
tents and  praying  Christians  ;  many  souls 
were  converted.  One  gentleman  of  forty 
years  of  age  was  converted  while  I 
preached.  Not  unto  me,  not  unto  me ; 
but  unto  my  blessed  Savior  shall  be  all 
praise  and  glory,  now  and  for  evermore." 
Alfred  Cookman  found  in  New  York 
what  his  soul  yearned  for — a  meeting 
186 


Pastor  and  Preacher. 

for  the  special  promotion  of  holiness, 
conducted  by  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Palmer. 
Here  great  and  good  men  and  women, 
of  all  denominations,  met  to  enjoy  the 
fellowship  of  saints.  Alfred  Cookman 
received  from  week  to  week  in  this 
meeting,  great  spiritual  profit.  The  tes- 
timonies were  especially  helpful.  His 
presence  also  contributed,  not  a  little, 
to  the  interest  of  these  meetings. 

Mr.  Cookman's  pastorate  at  the  Cen- 
tral Church  closed  in  the  spring  of 
1863.  But  not  without  deep  regret  on 
the  part  of  the  people.  He  was  be- 
loved by  all  as  a  man  of  God. 

His  next  pastorate  was  in  the  same 
city,  Trinity  Church,  on  West  Thirty- 
fourth  Street.  The  Church  to  which  he 
was  appointed  knew  him  to  be  pro- 
nounced on  two  questions — the  war,  and 
the  subject  of  holiness. 

The  war  was  still  raging,  and  every 
effort   was   being   made   to   relieve   the 
sufferings  of  our  soldiers  who  were  at 
the  front  and  in  the  hospitals. 
187 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

The  Christian  Commission  had  been 
organized,  with  the  object  of  carrying 
comfort  to  the  bodies  and  minds  of  our 
suffering  soldiers.  Christian  ministers 
by  hundreds  volunteered  their  services 
for  a  given  time,  and  worthy  laymen 
joined  them  in  these  acts  of  mercy.  The 
good  accomplished  by  these  worthy,  un- 
selfish men  of  God  will  not  be  fully 
known  until  the  books  are  finally  opened. 
Mr.  Lincoln,  in  addressing  a  company  of 
these  ministers,  in  our  presence,  said, 
"Gentlemen,  you  are  the  only  men  who 
have  called  on  me  that  did  not  want 
something."  Mr.  Cookman  offered  his 
services  to  the  Christian  Commission. 
They  were  accepted.  He  left  home 
about  the  2Oth  'of  February,  1864,  and 
returned  to  his  charge  the  24th  of  March, 
having  spent  his  time  in  Washington 
and  Brandy  Station,  etc.  He  was  much 
of  the  time  with  the  New  York  Heavy 
Artillery,  and  at  the  headquarters  of  the 
Reserve  Artillery.  His  correspondence 
to  his  wife  and  family  shows  how  deeply 
1 88 


Pastor  and  Preacher. 

he  was  interested  in  the  work.  An  ex- 
tract from  a  letter  to  his  wife  will  indi- 
cate the  work  which  most  interested 
him.  He  says :  "I  have  been  writing 
this  morning  a  letter  to  a  wife  who  re- 
sides at  Garrison  Station,  on  the  line 
of  the  Hudson  River  Railroad.  Last 
night  her  husband  was  powerfully  con- 
verted. The  case  is  thrillingly  interest- 
ing. Two  weeks  since  he  tore  himself 
from  a  dear,  pious,  and  faithful  wife 
and  three  beloved  children.  His  com- 
panion remonstrated  with  tears  in  her 
eyes.  Still  he  enlisted.  After  great 
hardships,  he  reached  this  camp  on 
Wednesday  morning.  In  the  evening  he 
came  to  the  tent.  The  preached  word 
affected  his  heart,  and  he  rose  for 
prayers.  All  day  yesterday  he  was  a 
subject  of  powerful  awakening.  Last 
evening,  during  our  experience  meet- 
ing, he  rose  up  (a  noble-looking  man) 
and,  with  tears  running  down  his  cheeks, 
said :  *O,  fellow-soldiers,  how  much  I 
want  to  be  saved !  All  day  I  have  been 
189 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

wrestling  with  conviction.  Now  I 
yield,  I  yield ;  I  can  hold  out  no  more. 
I  am  resolved  to  seek  and  serve  God. 
O,  won't  you  please  pray  for  me?'  I 
dropped  on  my  knees,  and  poured  out 
my  soul  in  importunate  pleading.  All 
the  soldiers  were  wonderfully  interested 
and  engaged.  Prayer  finished,  the  sol- 
dier rose  again,  and  said :  'Fellow-sol- 
diers, I  must  tell  you  I  believe  God  has 
heard  and  answered  my  prayer.  The  love 
of  Jesus  is  shed  abroad  in  my  heart. 
I  am  happy  in  God.  I  came  to  be  a 
soldier  of  the  Nation — now  I  am,  in 
addition,  a  soldier  of  Jesus.  When  we 
were  coming  here,  very  many  of  our 
company  were  sorry  that  they  had  en- 
listed ;  but  if  you  will  enlist  in  the  serv- 
ice of  Jesus,  you  wilf  never  be  sorry.' 
Thereupon,  another  soldier  sprang  to 
his  feet,  and  said :  'I  will  enlist  to-night. 
Two  of  my  children  are  in  heaven.  I 
want  to  meet  them  there,  and  I  intend 
to  march  with  that  dear  man.  Here, 
fellow-soldiers,  I  enlist  to-night.'  I  can 
190 


Pastor  and  Preacher. 

give  you  no  idea  of  the  meeting.  It 
was  wonderful,  glorious,  surpassing  any- 
thing I  ever  witnessed.  My  own  soul 
is  richly  baptized.  I  lay  down  on  my 
bed  with  a  heart  melting  in  gratitude 
before  God." 

Mr.  Cookman  was  at  home  in  this 
sort  of  work,  and  this  is  a  sample  of  the 
work  he  did  among  the  soldiers.  "I 
am  sustained,"  he  says,  "by  the  convic- 
tion that  I  am  in  the  line  of  duty,  and 
God  strengthens  and  blesses  me."  To 
his  sister  Mary,  he  writes :  "God  keeps 
my  soul  in  peace.  When  I  walk  these 
hills  alone,  I  feel  I  am  not  alone.  My 
Heavenly  Father  vouchsafes  me  his 
presence,  and  I  am  allowed  precious 
communion  with  himself.  Our  meet- 
ings are  largely  attended^  and  decidedly 
interesting.  Every  night  there  are  some 
new  cases  of  awakening  and  conver- 
sion. On  Tuesday  evening,  beside  the 
number  who  rose  for  prayers,  four 
noble  soldiers  stood  up  and  asked 
prayers  of  all  present.  Two  of  them 
191 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

professed  to  find  Jesus  before  the  close 
of  the  meeting.  O,  how  much  I  wish 
you  could  enjoy  one  of  these  experi- 
ence meeting's!"  In  this  manner  the 
work  went  on. 

It  was  at  Trinity  that  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cookman  suffered  their  first  bereave- 
ment, in  the  death  of  their  little  daugh- 
ter Rebecca,  but  three  and  a  half  years 
old.  She  was  absent  from  home  when 
she  died,  staying  with  her  grandfather 
at  Columbia.  "We  were  exceedingly 
shocked  at  the  announcement  of  her 
death,"  writes  Mr.  Cookman  to  his 
friend,  Mrs.  Skidmore;  "for,  although 
we  had  heard  of  her  sickness,  we  had 
no  idea  that  she  was  seriously  or  dan- 
gerously ill.  The  little  representative  of 
Central  Church  is  the  first  taken  from  our 
domestic  circle.  O,  how  real  and  blessed 
the  eternal  home  seems  this  evening! 
My  dear  wife  is  overwhelmed  with  sor- 
row. Nevertheless,  she  submits  un- 
complainingly to  this  providence  of  our 
faithful  God." 

192 


Pastor  and  Preacher* 

Writing  to  his  sister  Mary,  he  says, 
"We  have  just  been  placing  in  the  cold 
grave  another  beautiful  gem,  to  develop 
and  reappear  in  the  promised  resurrec- 
tion." "I  have  many  times  sought," 
he  says,  "to  comfort  bereaved  parents. 
God,  by  his  providence,  has  been  better 
preparing  me  for  this  part  of  my  min- 
isterial duty." 

Mr.  Cookman's  pastorate  at  Trinity 
closed  in  1864,  and  he  accepted  a  press- 
ing invitation  to  return  to  Philadelphia, 
where  his  services  were  sought  for  a  new 
church  which  had  been  erected  on 
Spring  Garden  Street.  We  need  not 
refer  to  the  correspondence  which  led 
to  his  return  to  the  city  he  so  much 
loved,  and  in  which  were  so  many  of 
his  dearest  friends.  Mr.  Cookman  was 
pastor  of  Spring  Garden  Street  for  three 
years,  and  his  ministry  in  that  new  and 
attractive  church  was  as  great  a  suc- 
cess as  in  any  pastorate  of  his  ministry. 
He  was  never  more  popular  with  his 
people,  and  never  exerted  a  more  salu- 
,  J3  193 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

tary  influence  in  the  community.  He 
was  in  the  prime  of  his  manhood  and 
the  height  of  his  usefulness.  His  con- 
gregation welcomed  him  with  open  arms. 
His  church  was  admirably  located,  and 
ably  manned  by  intelligent  and  energetic 
laymen,  and  success  seemed  assured 
from  the  beginning.  Mr.  Cookman  was 
well  and  personally  known  in  the  city 
by  all.  His  name  was  already  a  tower 
of  strength.  He  at  once  established  a 
meeting  in  his  church  for  the  promo- 
tion of  holiness.  This  meeting  was 
subsequently  removed,  by  his  consent, 
to  the  Methodist  Book-room  on  Arch 
Street,  where  it  has  remained  to  this 
day.  Mr.  Cookman  continued  to  con- 
duct the  meeting  while  he  remained  in 
Philadelphia.  His  first  year  in  Spring 
Garden  Street  was  full  of  excessive  toil 
and  unprecedented  usefulness.  Fears 
were  entertained  that  his  abundant  la- 
bors were  too  great  a  draft  on  his  vital 
energies,  but  he  seemed  in  perfect  health. 
On  his  return,  in  1866,  from  the  Confer- 
194 


Pastor  and  Preacher. 

ence,  he  seemed  full  of  evangelistic  zeal. 
He  is  away  to  help  his  brother  John, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  in  a  revival,  his  brother 
suffering  from  an  attack  of  diphtheria. 
His  vacation  is  spent  at  the  'camp-meet- 
ings, urging  the  people  to  the  enjoyment 
of  full  salvation.  "What  is  the  use  of 
giving  you  a  vacation?"  said  one  of  his 
official  brethren ;  "you  do  n't  rest ;  you 
go  to  all  the  camp-meetings,  and  preach 
more  than  if  you  were  at  home.  I  can 
not  favor  it  unless  you  will  rest."  His 
reply  was :  "I  can  not  accept  a  vacation 
on  such  conditions.  I  must  preach. 
The  gospel  is  free."  Mr.  Cookman's 
health  seemed  unimpaired,  and  with  him 
preaching  was  a  pleasure,  and  laboring 
for  the  salvation  of  souls  was  rest.  He 
had  learned  the  meaning  of  that  line, 

"Labor  is  rest." 

Wherever  he  went,  light  was  diffused, 
power  fell  6n  the  people,  and  there  was 
great  rejoicing.  He  says,  on  returning 
to  his  charge,  "It  was  the  most  delight- 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

ful  holiday  of  my  life."  He  was  at 
Shrewsbury  camp-meeting  for  three 
days,  and  pronounces  them  "three  of 
the  greatest  and  most  glorious  days  of 
my  life."  He  preached  at  the  last- 
named  camp  a  sermon  on  entire  sancti- 
fication.  "The  illumination  and  unc- 
tion," he  says,  "vouchsafed  were,  I 
think,  unprecedented  in  my  history.  O, 
what  power  I  had  in  appealing  to  the 
preachers !  Hundreds  of  people  bowed 
in  consecration !" 

In  1867,  Mr.  Cookman's  last  year  in 
Spring  Garden  Street,  the  National 
Camp-meeting  movement  was  inaugu- 
rated, an  account  of  which,  with  Mr. 
Cookman's  relation  to  it,  are  given  in 
other  chapters. 

There  were  three  events  occurring 
during  this  year  which  deeply  affected 
Mr.  Cookman :  First,  the  death  of 
Bishop  Simpson's  son  Charles ;  second, 
the  death  of  his  eldest  brother  George; 
and  finally,  the  death  of  his  eldest  son, 
Bruner.  His  brother  George  was  con- 
196 


Pastor  and  Preacher. 

verted  under  the  ministry  of  Alfred  in 
Philadelphia.  His  death  occurred  Octo- 
ber i,  1867.  Few  hearts  were  ever  more 
closely  United  than  were  these  brothers. 
From  the  time  of  his  conversion,  George 
Cookman  became  one  of  the  most 
earnest,  devoted  Christian  men  in  Phil- 
adelphia. As  a  member,  first  of  Green 
Street,  and  then  of  Arch  Street,  of 
which  he  was  one  of  the  founders,  he 
was  a  leader  in  every  good  work.  He 
was  Sunday  -  school  superintendent, 
trustee,  steward,  class-leader,  exhorter, 
and  leader  of  Church  music.  He  was 
president  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association,  as  successor  of  George  H. 
Stuart ;  a  manager  of  the  American  Sun- 
day-school Union,  manager  of  the  Phil- 
adelphia Tract  Society,  etc.  George 
Cookman  was  a  well-rounded  man,  as 
well  as  a  Christian  of  whom  none  were 
ashamed.  In  a  letter  to  his  bosom  friend, 
Rev.  Andrew  Longacre,  Alfred  says : 
"I  mourn  the  loss  of  one  of  the  sweetest 
and  best  of  brothers.  The  earthward 
197 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

side  of  this  dispensation  is  desolate  be- 
yond expression.  I  find  my  soul,  how- 
ever, singing, 

'Jesus,  brother  of  my  soul, 
Let  me  to  thy  bosom  fly.' 

There  I  hide  my  crippled  wing,  and 
realize  the  comfort  that  the  Divinity 
supplies.  Pray  for  me." 

The  last  testimony  of  this  good  man, 
given  in  an  experience-meeting,  on  the 
Wednesday  evening  before  he  died,  was 
that  he  was  physically  feeble,  and  could 
not  say  much,  but  his  experience  might 
be  expressed  in  that  beautiful  stanza: 

"  'T  is  Jesus,  the  First  and  the  Last, 

Whose  Spirit  shall  guide  me  straight 

home; 
1 11  praise  him  for  all  that  is  past, 

And  trust  him  for  all  that 's  to  come." 

George  died  well.  Death  found  him 
at  his  post,  faithfully  discharging  his 
duties. 

And  now,  March  2,  1868,  his  first- 
born, Alfred  Bruner  Cookman,  is  re- 
moved by  death.  He  had  been  a  light 
198 


Pastor  and  Preacher. 

in  the  home  for  nearly  sixteen  years. 
He  was  a  good  Christian  boy,  had  been 
converted,  and  was  doing  all  a  boy 
could  do  to  maintain  a  Christian  life. 
He  gives  this  account  of  his  conversion, 
January  8,  1865 :  "To-day  I  have  expe- 
rienced religion.  In  the  afternoon  I 
went  up  to  the  altar,  but  did  not  find 
Christ.  In  the  evening  I  found  him. 
Glory  to  God!"  He  was  a  child  of 
feeble  constitution,  but  his  associates  all 
said  of  him,  "Alfred  Brtmer  Cookman 
is  a  good  boy — good  at  school,  good  on 
the  street,  good  at  play,  good  in  his 
words,  good  in  his  temper,  good  in  his 
actions."  "And  so  he  was,"  said  his 
father. 

"None  knew  him  but  to  love  him, 
None  named  him  but  to  praise." 

It  was  a  sad  blow  to  the  home. 
Mother  and  father  felt  the  bereavement 
as  only  good  parents  do  when  the  first- 
born is  taken.  "Our  glorified  boy!" 
says  Mr.  Cookman.  "We  praise  God 
199 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

for  the  temporary  loan.  It  made  earth 
more  beautiful.  It  makes  heaven  more 
attractive."  The  three  years  of  pastoral 
labor  in  the  Spring  Garden  charge 
closed  in  1868.  Between  the  conflict- 
ing claims  of  St.  John's  Church,  Brook- 
lyn, and  Grace  Church,  Wilmington, 
Delaware,  Mr.  Cookman  was  severely 
pressed.  Both  churches  were  new,  and 
offered  equal  attractions.  Grace  Church 
had  the  advantage  of  being  in  his  own 
Conference.  The  bishops  finally  decided 
the  matter  in  favor  of  Grace  Church. 
His  three  years'  pastorate  in  Wilming- 
ton was  marked  with  his  usual  success. 
Immediately  his  ministry  became  at- 
tractive to  all  classes,  and  his  Church 
was  speedilyfilled.  Among  his  first  efforts 
was  the  establishment  of  a  meeting  for 
the  promotion  of  holiness.  There  were 
some  who  were  of  opinion  that  he  might 
be  urging  the  subject  unduly,  and  that  it 
would  interfere  with  his  popularity.  To 
this  he  answered :  "O,  the  Lord  Jesus 


Pastor  and  Preacher. 

has  my  reputation  in  his  keeping.  I  have 
committed  it  all  to  him,  and  he  will 
take  care  of  it."  There  were  many  in  his 
Church  who  at  first  were  not  prepared 
to  accept  his  views  on  the  subject  of 
holiness,  but  who,  finally,  received  them 
experimentally,  and  became  his  warmest 
friends.  The  people  loved  him  with  an 
intense  love  for  the  good  they  had  re- 
ceived under  his  ministry.  Writing  to 
his  wife,  who  had  not  yet  arrived,  of  his 
first  Sabbath,  he  says  :  "It  was  a  glorious 
day ;  congregation  magnificent ;  sacra- 
ment the  most  blessed  service  of  that 
kind  I  have  enjoyed  for  years.  Friends 
seemed  in  highest  spirit,  and  my  soul 
praises  God."  Very  soon  after  entering 
upon  his  labors,  his  spirit  became  dif- 
fused through  his  congregation,  and  a 
revival  commenced,  which  continued 
through  the  entire  term  of  his  pastorate. 
This  blessed  work  of  God  included  the 
justification  of  sinners,  and  the  entire 
sanctification  of  believers.  "I  believe," 
201 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

says  one  of  his  members,  "that  eternity 
alone  will  reveal  the  good  he  accom- 
plished at  Grace." 

In  the  spring  of  1869,  Mr.  Cookman 
was  invited  to  take  part  in  the  Fiftieth 
Anniversary  of  the  Missionary  Society 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
held  in  the  city  of  Washington,  D.  C., 
on  the  loth  and  nth  of  January.  Able 
representatives  of  the  Church  were 
present,  and  made  long  and  labored  ad- 
dresses on  the  occasion.  Alfred  Cook- 
man was  the  last  speaker.  The  hour 
was  late,  the  people  were  weary,  and 
the  prospect  was  not  hopeful  for  any 
man.  Mr.  Cookman,  in  his  opening 
remarks,  said :  "And  now,  sir,  looking 
around  upon  the*  field,  I  do  not  seem  to 
see  a  standing  stalk  of  truth.  These 
brethren,  with  their  bright  blades-  or 
their  keen  sickles,  have  been  getting  the 
harvest — they  have  even  carried  it  to 
the  mill.  They  have  ground  it  out  in 
their  close,  clear,  vigorous  thinking. 
They  have  manufactured  it  into  nour- 
202 


Pastor  and  Preacher. 

ishing  and  delightful  food.  It  has  been 
dealt  out  among  the  people,  and  in  the 
morning  and  in  the  evening  you  have 
been  enjoying  it,  and  are  now  satisfied. 
It  seems  to  me  that  it  only  remains  for 
me  to  return  thanks  and  go  home.  O, 
sir,  if  I  may  change  the  figure,  I  have 
thought  during  the  evening,  while  occu- 
pying my  seat,  that  we  have  been  en- 
gaged during  the  day  in  the  inspection 
of  our  great  missionary  ship,  its  keel, 
its  timbers,  its  planking,  its  deck,  its 
machinery — a  most  magnificent  piece  of 
machinery — its  pilotage,  and  its  Leader. 
Our  flags  are  flying,  our  officers  are  in 
their  places,  and  all  that  we  are  needing, 
as  it  would  seem,  is  the  missionary 
spirit,  which  might  be  entitled  the  motive 
power."  He  then  dwelt  on  the  mis- 
sionary spirit.  A  correspondent  of  the 
Christian  Advocate  wrote,  "The  address 
was  pervaded  by  the  blessed  spirit  of 
the  Master,  and  at  times,  in  rapt  de- 
light, the  audience  wept  and  rejoiced ; 
and  when  the  speaker  closed  his  remarks, 
203 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

allpresent  must  have  felt  that  they  had 
bqen  with  him  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  re- 
ceiving inspiration  and  comfort  for 
future  effort." 

At  the  General  Conference  of  1868, 
the  Philadelphia  Conference  was  divided, 
and  the  Wilmington  Conference  was 
formed,  and  now  Alfred  Cookman 
found  himself  in  another  than  the  Phil- 
adelphia Conference.  But  he  continued 
in  the  work  at  Grace  Church  until  his 
term  expired.  His  labors  during  this 
period  were  prodigious.  His  services  at 
the  three  great  National  Camp-meet- 
ings— Hamilton,  Oakington,  and  Des 
Plaines ;  his  management  of  the  Penin- 
sula Methodist  Convention,  Ennall's 
Spring  Camp,  etc.,  must  have  pressed 
him  beyond  measure.  His  closing  ad- 
dress at  the  Methodist  Convention, 
"though  impromptu,"  says  Rev.  G.  H. 
Lightbourne,  "was  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  and  thrilling  to  which  I  ever 
listened."  The  pastor  of  the  West 
Presbyterian  Church,  Wilmington,  gives 
204 


Pastor  and  Preacher. 

this  testimony  of  Mr.  Cookman's  work: 
"Perhaps  no  man  ever  exerted  a  wider 
or  better  influence  in  that  community 
in  the  same  time  than  did  Alfred  Cook- 
man,  and  no  man  was  more  highly  es- 
teemed or  more  tenderly  loved." 

The  Wilmington  Commercial  said,  "It 
is  with  deep  regret  that  his  brethren  of 
the  Wilmington  Conference  part  with 
him,  and  many  of  the  laity  will  follow 
him  with  tearful  eyes  and  prayerful 
wishes  that  they  may  meet  again  on 
this  side  the  grave,  and  if  not,  that  they 
may  meet  him  in  heaven." 

One  of  the  most  touching  scenes  oc- 
curred at  a  meeting  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  at  which  Mr.  Cookman  was 
present  for  the  last  time.  He  was 
accustomed  to  attend  these  Wednesday- 
afternoon  meetings.  The  minister  read 
for  his  lesson,  Acts  xx,  17:  "And  they 
all  wept  sore,  and  fell  on  Paul's  neck, 
and  kissed  him,  sorrowing  most  of  all 
for  the  words  which  he  had  spoken  that 
they  should  see  his  face  no  more."  Mr. 
205 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

Cookman  was  himself  overcome  by  his 
emotions,  and,  with  the  whole  audience, 
continued  to  weep  for  some  time.  So 
uncontrollable  were  their  emotions  that 
it  was  impossible  for  a  time  to  proceed 
with  the  services.  It  seemed  quite 
prophetic,  as  he  never  again  visited 
that  meeting. 

In  1871,  Alfred  Cookman  made  his 
last  move.  It  is  true  he  had  calls  from 
Boston,  Chicago,  Cincinnati,  Washing- 
ton, and  Newark ;  but  Providence,  no 
.doubt,  directed  his  appointment  to  Cen- 
tral Church,  Newark,  N.  J.,  that  he 
might  receive  his  final  translation  in  the 
midst  of  his  friends.  His  appointment 
seems  to  have  been  in  direct  answer  to 
prayer.  Before  he  left  Grace  Church, 
and  while  he  was  not  able  to  see  clearly 
the  path  of  duty,  there  was  a  little  prayer- 
meeting  of  his  special  friends.  They  met 
to  pray  for  Divine  guidance.  He  was 
ready  for  any  place,  ready  to  suffer  or  to 
die  for  Jesus.  It  is  said  that  the  next 
morning,  with  one  voice,  they  said, 
"Newark,"  and  to  Newark  he  went 
206 


Pastor  and  Preacher. 

He  was  received  by  the  members  of 
his  new  field  with  the  greatest  cordiality, 
•and  everything  was  done  to  make  him 
and  his  family  comfortable  and  happy. 
Those  who  knew  him  best  could  see  with 
great  clearness  that  Alfred  Cookman  was 
increasingly  intent  on  possessing  more  of 
the  mind  that  was  in  Christ,  and  to  be 
perfect  as  he  is  perfect,  and  to  be  envel- 
oped constantly  in  an  atmosphere  of 
heavenly-mindedness.  Such  was  Alfred 
Cookman  as  he  entered  upon  his  final 
pastorate.  He  seemed  to  be  well  char- 
acterized by  the  term  saintliness.  He 
may  not  have  been  impressed  with  this 
change ;  but  those  with  whom  he  came 
in  contact  saw  clearly  the  spirit  of  glory 
and  of  God  was  resting  upon  him.  He 
entered  joyfully  into  every  interest  of 
his  Church,  and  the  people  responded 
heartily  to  his  earnest  appeals  to  seek 
the  promised  power  from  on  high.  In 
the  midst  of  these  signs  of  great  useful- 
ness the  end  came. 

207 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

FINAL  TRIUMPH:  SWEEPING  THROUGH 
THE  GATES. 

'T'HE  remark  has  often  been  made: 
"What  a  misfortune  to  the  Christian 
Church  that  Alfred  Cookman  should 
have  been  called  away  so  early  in  life,  in 
the  forty-second  year  of  his  age!  He 
had  many  years  of  active  life  before  him, 
and  the  Church  so  much  needed  his 
services."  We  do  not  sympathize  with 
this  complaint.  The  Church  has  gained 
by  his  dying  vastly  more  than  she  could 
have  gained  by  his  living.  His  dying 
song  of  victory  will  live  long  after  all  his 
labors  have  been  forgotten. 

Some  men  die  old  at  thirty.     Others 
are  children  at  fourscore.  The  real  fact  is, 

"We  live  in  deeds,  not  years;  in  thoughts,  not 

breaths ; 

In  feelings,  not  in  figures  on  a,dial. 
We  should  count  time  by  heart-throbs.     He 

most  lives 

Who  thinks  most,  feels  the  noblest,  acts  the 
best; 

208 


Sweeping  Through  the  Gates. 

He  whose  heart  beats  quickest  lives  longest — 
Lives   in   one   hour   more  than  in  years  do 
some." 

"The  dead  have  all  the  glory  of  the 
world." 

"If  the  sun  were  never  to  rise  again," 
says  old  Jeremy  Collier,  "it  would  look 
grander  to  tumble  from  the  heavens  at 
midday,  with  all  its  light  and  heat, 
rather  than  gain  a  few  hours,  only  to 
languish  and  decline." 

"The  last  act  of  such  a  life  is  much  like 
the  last  number  of  a  sum,  ten  times 
greater  than  all  the  rest." 

Rev.  Thomas  Walsh,  of  whom  Mr. 
Wesley  said,  "Such  a  master  of  Bible 
knowledge  I  never  saw  before,  and  never 
expect  to  see  again,"  and  under  whose 
ministry  he  claims  that  "more  souls  were 
converted  than  under  the  labors  of  any 
man  of  his  time,"  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-eight.  But  his  influence  still 
lives.  Rev.  John  Summerfield,  the  most 
eloquent  and  effective  preacher  that  ever 
stood  in  an  American  pulpit,  and  whose 
14  209 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

memory  is  as  fragrant  as  "the  rose  of 
Sharon  or  the  lily  of  the  valley,"  and 
can  never  be  dissipated,  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty-seven.  Rev.  David  Brainard, 
whose  self-sacrificing  labor  is  an  inspi- 
ration to  every  missionary  of  the  cross, 
and  of  whom  Bishop  Hamline  once  said, 
"I  would  rather  be  David  Brainard, 
wrapped  in  my  bearskin  and  spitting 
blood  upon  the  snow,  than  to  be  Ga- 
briel," died  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine 
years.  The  influence  of  such  a  man  must 
continue  to  be  felt  until  "the  kingdoms 
of  this  world  shall  become  the  kingdom 
of  our  Lord  and  his  Christ."  Bishop 
Janes,  in  addressing  some  missionaries, 
said,  in  substance :  "Go  to  your  field  of 
labor,  and  devote  all  your  energies  to 
save  the  heathen,  and  take  the  very  first 
good  opportunity  to  die  and  go  to 
heaven."  It  is  often  true, 

' '  The  good  die  first, 
And  they  whose  hearts  are  dry  as  summer 

dust 
Burn  to  the  socket.' ' 


Sweeping  Through  the  Gates. 

It  is  true,  Alfred  Cookman  died  com- 
paratively young ;  but  he  lives  in  the  love 
and  admiration  of  God's  people,  and  will 
while  holiness  is  accepted  as  the  "central 
idea  of  Christianity." 

Mr.  Cookman  had  reached  the  last 
milestone  of  his  mortal  life,  and  was  now 
about  to  "languish  into  the  life  immor- 
tal." Such  an  end  could  not  be  said  to 
be  "languishing,"  except  in  the  sense 
of  the  indescribable  physical  agonies 
which  he  suffered.  As  he  approached 
the  "Golden  Shore,"  he  had,  like  Ste- 
phen, visions  of  an  open  heaven.  After 
a  severe  attack  of  physical  agony  had 
subsided,  he  had,  or  fancied  he  had,  a 
remarkable  vision.  He  was  just  inside 
the  city  of  God.  While  there,  he  was 
first  received  by  his  Grandfather  Cook- 
man, who  said  :  "When  you  were  in  Eng- 
land, I  took  great  pleasure  in  showing 
you  the  different  places  of  interest.  Now 
I  welcome  you  to  heaven,  washed  in  the 
blood  of  the  Lamb."  Then  his  father, 
whose  features  were  as  distinct  as  when 

211 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

he  saw  him  in  his  boyhood,  said :  "Wel- 
come, my  son,  washed  in  the  blood  of 
the  Lamb !"  Then  his  brother  George 
clasped  him  as  he  arrived,  and  said, 
"Welcome,  my  brother,  washed  in  the 
blood  of  the  Lamb."  Finally,  his  son 
Bruner  received  him  with  the  same  salu- 
tation, "Welcome,  father,  washed  in  the 
blood  of  the  Lamb." 

The  saints  of  God  have  sometimes  had 
such  visions.  They  have  come  nearer 
than  to  say, 

"The  holy  ones,  behold  they  come! 
I  hear  the  noise  of  wings." 

They  have  said :  "Do  n't  you  sec  them  ? 
Do  n't  you  hear  the  music  ?"  They  sing : 

"  Bright  spirits  are  from  glory  come ; 
They  're  round  my  bed ;  they  're  in  my  room ; 
They  wait  to  waft  my  spirit  home, — 
All  is  well." 

Once  reporting  this  dream,  if  one  is 
pleased  to  call  it  a  dream,  to  his  wife,  he 
said,  "What  an  abundant  entrance!" 
Notwithstanding  these  wonderful  visions 
of  heavenly  life,  and  his  manifest  fitness 
212 


Sweeping  Through  the  Gates. 

for  the  place,  he  was  often  heard  to  re- 
peat the  words : 

"  I  'm  a  poor  sinner,  and  nothing  at  all; 
But  Jesus  Christ  is  my  all  in  all." 

Like  Wesley,  he  could  say: 

"  I  the  chief  of  sinners  am, 
But  Jesus  died  for  me." 

When  the  faithful  soul  comes  face  to 
face  with  the  realities  of  the  last  struggle, 
he  sees  nothing  left  to  him  but  Jesus. 
His  past  faithfulness,  his  personal  holi- 
ness, no  matter  how  deep  and  complete ; 
his  -abundant  labors  and  marvelous  fruit- 
age in  souls — all  these  count  for  nothing 
in  the  presence  of  the  Throne.  He  finds 
that  "there  is  no  way  into  the  holiest  of 
all  but  by  the  blood  of  Jesus." 

Alfred  Cookman,  as  he  drew  near  the 
close  of  life,  seemed  more  and  more  anx- 
ious that  every  movement  lived,  every 
word  spoken,  every  meeting  held,  and 
every  sermon  preached,  should  bear  the 
stamp  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  They  dis- 
tilled fragrance  that  was  everywhere  felt. 
213 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

His  spiritual-mindedness  during  the  last 
few  weeks  of  his  life  exceeded  by  far  any 
former  period  in  his  life. 

"Sometimes,"  he  said,  "I  think  my 
work  nearly  done,  and  when  I  take  my 
bed  it  may  be  the  last  sickness." 

As  late  as  the  i8th  of  October,  less 
than  one  month  before  his  death,  he  at- 
tended the  annual  meeting  of  the  Na- 
tional Association  in  New  York.  His 
soul  seemed  in  a  state  of  spiritual  ec- 
stasy. His  heart  was  all  on  fire.  As  we 
walked  along  the  street  with  him,  he 
said :  "Let  me  take  your  arm.  My  limbs 
trouble  me,  and  I  am  weak."  Though 
he  seemed  very  feeble,  we  had  no 
thought  that  death  was  so  near.  He 
made  his  last  visit  to  his  brother  John, 
then  stationed  at  West  Twenty-fourth 
Street.  He  attended  a  love-feast  two 
days  before  his  final  illness  in  Halsey 
Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
Newark,  and  gave  a  clear,  ringing  testi- 
mony, relating  his  experience,  especially 
on  the  subject  of  holiness,  saying  to  two 
214 


Sweeping  Through  the  Gates. 

brothers  who  accompanied  him  home : 
"I  know  it  is  not  popular  to  hold  up  the 
doctrine  of  holiness ;  but  I  thought  I 
would  do  my  whole  duty  then.  I  feel 
this  may  be  my  last  opportunity."  There 
is  little  doubt  that  he  expected  his  end 
might  be  near. 

Four  days  after  he  attended  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  Association,  he  performed 
his  last  public  service  in  his  church, 
Sunday,  October  22d.  He  was  now 
about  to  do  what  he  had  many  times, 
when  in  health,  said  he  would  like  to  do. 
"I  would  like  to  die,  if  it  were  God's 
will,  with  my  armor  on,  and  preach  by 
my  death  as  well  as  by  my  life."  He 
would  like  to  die  as  Rev.  Dudley  Tyng 
died,  saying,  "It  was  glorious  to  die  as 
he  did,  for  his  dying  testimony  is  yet 
echoing  round  the  world."  God  gave 
him  his  desire,  and  his  dying  testimony, 
like  Mr.  Tyng's,  Is  echoing  round  the 
world,  and  will  continue  to  be  heard 
while  the  annals  of  dying  saints  are  read. 
The  trembling  believer  will  take  courage 
215 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

by  it  as  he  approaches  the  "swellings  of 
Jordan." 

Mr.  Cookman's  text  in  the  morning 
was  from  Mark  iv,  25,  "From  him  that 
hath  not  shall  be  taken  away  even  that 
which  he  hath."  It  was  a  solemn, 
searching  sermon.  As  evening  ap- 
proached he  complained  of  not  feeling 
well.  ''Mrs.  Cookman  was  very  anxious 
to  secure  some  one  to  fill  the  pulpit  for 
the  evening  service;"  but  he  was  not 
willing.  "I  think  I  have  a  message  from 
God  for  this  people.  I  shall  preach  from 
'The  faded  leaf.' "  He  arose,  holding  in 
his  hand  a  faded  leaf,  saying,  "This  is  my 
text,  'We  all  do  fade  as  a  leaf."'  He 
seemed  unlike  himself,  and  several  per- 
sons remarked  to  his  wife  that  "He 
looked  like  one  transfigured."  One  lady 
remarked  to  her  husband  that  she  "did 
not  think  that  Fletcher  could  have 
looked  more  seraphic."  As  he  passed 
from  the  pulpit,  he  handed  the  faded  leaf 
to  a  friend,  saying  as  he  did  so,  "That 
leaf  and  the  preacher  are  much  alike — 
216 


Sweeping  Through  the  Gates. 

fading."  *As  he  concluded  his  sermon 
his  feet  gave  way,  and  it  was  with  some 
effort  that  he  limped  from  the  pulpit  to 
his  home.  As  he  reached  the  parsonage 
and  met  his  anxious  wife,  he  seemed  al- 
most distracted  with  pain.  He  was  as- 
sisted to  his  chamber,  saying  to  his  wife, 
"I  have  preached  my  own  experience 
to-night — 'Fading  as  a  leaf.' "  A  phy- 
sician was  summoned,  who  pronounced 
the  disease  "myalgia,  or  acute  inflam- 
matory rheumatism."  The  pain  was 
confined  to  the  ankles  and  the  soles  of 
the  feet ;  but  so  intense  was  it  that  he  re- 
marked -to  us  that  it  would  have  been  a 
relief  to  place  his  feet  in  the  fire.  No 
language  can  describe  the  agony  he  suf- 
fered. Rev.  L.  R.  Dunn  says:  "In  at- 
tempting to  describe  his  sufferings  to 
me,  he  used  the  following  language :  'If 
the  bones  of  my  feet  were  all  teeth,  and 
each  one  had  what  we  call  the  jumping 
toothache,  it  would  give  you  some  idea 
of  what  I  suffer.'  "  He  himself  said  that 
"while  his  whole  physical  nature  was 
217 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

quivering  with  agony,  his  higher  spirit- 
ual nature  triumphed  in  God."  He  said 
to  us :  "In  the  midst  of  my  most  severe 
agonies,  my  soul  has  been  so  filled  with 
God  that  for  a  time  I  quite  forget  the 
pain." 

Mr.  Cookman  seemed  hopeful  of  his 
recovery  in  the  presence  of  his  friends; 
but  beneath  all  this  hopeful  exterior 
there  seemed  to  be  a  conviction  that  his 
work  was  done.  There  was  always  an 
"if."  After  about  a  week  of  suffering,  as 
above  described,  there  came  a  lull,  and 
he  became  hopeful  and  cheerful,  and 
spent  the  time  in  reading,  or  being  read 
to,  and  in  writing  brief  letters  to  his 
friends.  The  (comfort  he  found  in  read- 
ing the  Word  of  God  was  very  great. 

The  2Qth  of  October,  one  week  from 
the  time  he  was  prostrated,  the  members 
of  his  Church,  who  were  very  anxious, 
held  a  prayer-meeting  to  pray  for  his 
recovery.  He  dictated  a  note  to  the 
meeting:  "This  is  a  Sabbath  of  great 
physical  suffering,  and  yet  it  is  proving, 
218 


Sweeping  Through  the  Gates. 

doubtless  in  answer  to  your  prayers,  the 
most  precious  of  all  my  life.  I  am  Christ's 
suffering  little  child;  amid  the  very 
sharp,  keen,  excruciating  pain,  I  feel  that 
Jesus  presses  me  even  more  closely  to 
his  great  heart  of  love,  and  lets  me  realize 
the  power  of  his  Divine  sympathy  and 
tenderness.  God  bless  you  all — the  kind- 
est, dearest  people  that  any  pastor  ever 
served." 

Among  the  letters  written  in  these  in- 
tervals of  suffering,  he  addressed  some  to 
his  most  intimate  friends.  We  select 
portions  from  one  written  to  Mrs.  Abra- 
ham Bruner,  his  mother-in-law.  Still 
confined  to  his  bed,  and  has  been  for 
three  weeks,  he  says  :  "For  some  months 
past  I  have  been  far  from  well ;  but  at 
the  close  of  my  sermon  on  the  evening 
of  October  22d,  I  felt  my  feet  giving 
way.  I  limped  home,  went  to  bed,  and 
for  nine  days  was  almost  distracted  with 
what  my  physicians  called  myalgia,  an 
acute  form  of  inflammatory  rheumatism. 
The  pain  was  confined  to  my  ankles  and 
219 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

soles. of  my  feet.  It  was  just  as  if  the 
back  part  of  my  feet  were  filled  with 
teeth,  and  all  at  the^same  time  affected 
with  violent  jumping  toothache.  This, 
of  course,  made  my  feet  so  sore  that  I 
could  scarcely  bear  to  have  them 
touched.  It  so  involved  my  whole  nerv- 
ous system  that  towards  the  last  it  was 
almost  like  convulsions.  Only  once  have 
I  sat  up,  and  then  returned  to  bed  with 
a  raging  fever.  Fever,  bloody  expecto- 
ration, sore  throat,  torpid  liver,  disor- 
dered kidneys,  absence  of  appetite, 
hemorrhoids,  and  great  weakness  are  my 
symptoms  at  present.  My  physician, 
a  skillful  and  experienced  practitioner, 
is  very  faithful  in  coming  to  see  me  twice 
a  day.  Then  my  precious  wife  (God 
bless  her!)  has  been  unremitting  in  her 
attentions.  Day  and  night,  like  a  loving 
angel,  she  has  hovered  over  my  pillow, 
studying  my  wants,  anticipating  my 
wishes.  O,  I  can  never  repay  her  for 
her  self-sacrificing  and  unwavering  love ! 
I  fancy  she  looks  thin  through  her  con- 

220 


Sweeping  Through  the  Gates. 

slant  nursing;  but  she  would  not  per- 
mit any  one  to  take  her  place,  and  I  am 
sure  I  do  not  want  any  one  else. 

"Above  all,  my  dear  mother,  I  have 
had  the  precious  Jesus  with  me  every 
hour  of  my  sickness.  When  my  pains 
were  most  severe,  he  would  let  down 
upon  my  soul  such  a  weight  of  glory 
that  I  was  obliged  to  break  forth  in 
strains  of  praise  and  joy.  O,  precious 
mother,  how  invaluable  is  full  salvation 
in  suffering  and  in  the  prospect  of  eter- 
nity !  To  feel  that  the  soul  is  washed  in 
the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  and  to  realize  the 
perfect  love  that  casts  out  all  fear  that 
hath  torment!  O,  this  is  more  than  all 
the  world  beside !" 

This  epistle  gives  a  graphic  idea  of  the 
deep  agonies  he  endured,  and  the  rich 
and  abundant  blessing  from  God  by 
which  he  was  sustained.  At  times  Mr. 
Cookman  would  break  out  and  sing,  "O, 
how  I  love  Jesus !"  or  "Rock  of  Ages," 
etc. 

We  were  invited  to  supply  his  pulpit 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

Sabbath,  November  I2th.  We  called 
upon  him  with  another  brother  on  Sat- 
urday evening,  and  found  him  apparently 
improved,  and  quite  hopeful.  And  while 
we  prayed  there  seemed  an  unusual 
manifestation  of  the  Divine  presence. 
He  was  greatly  comforted,  and  so  were 
we.  At  the  close  of  the  Sabbath  morn- 
ing service  we  retired  to  the  parsonage, 
and  spent  the  afternoon  with  him.  We 
need  not  say  that  it  was  a  season  never 
to  be -forgotten.  We  found  "the  cham- 
ber where  the  good  man  met  his  fate 
quite  on  the  verge  of  heaven."  "Dark- 
ness" often  "shows  us  worlds  of  light 
we  never  saw  by  day."  So  Alfred  Cook- 
man's  extreme  physical  sufferings  had 
seemed  to  open  to  his  sanctified  vision 
the  glories  of  that  world  where  there  is 
"no  more  pain,"  and  where  "they  die  no 
more."  His  soul  had  been  enraptured 
with  the  sight,  that  strong  as  were  his 
attachments  to  earth,  with  wife  and  little 
ones  whom  he  dearly  loved  clinging  to 

222 


Sweeping  Through  the  Gates, 

him,  he  could  say :  "If  Jesus  should  enter 
my  room  and  ask,  'Will  you  have  life  or 
death?'  I  should  say,  'Blessed  Jesus,  I 
have  no  choice.  Do  as  it  pleaseth  Thee.' 
O,  I  am  so  sweetly  washed  in  the  blood 
of  the  Lamb!" 

"I  have  tried,"  he  said,  "to  lift  up  the 
banner  of  holiness,  and  now  the  sweet 
will  of  God  is  mine."  To  us  he  said :  "I 
have  tried  to  preach  holiness.  I  have 
honestly  declared  it,  and  O,  what  a  com- 
fort it  is  to  me  now!"  Again  he  said: 
"I  have  no  regrets  now.  I  have  stood  up 
for  the  right,  though  sometimes  nearly 
alone."  At  another  time  he  said  to  us, 
"I  have  been  true  to  holiness,  and  now 
Jesus  saves  me  fully."  "I  am  washed 
and  made  clean." 

These  expressions  tell,  as  nothing  else 
could,  how  deeply  he  was  impressed  with 
the  importance  of  the  subject  of  personal 
holiness — being  washed  in  the  blood  of 
Jesus.  His  soul  seemed  all  aflame  to  de- 
clare the  boundless  love  of  Jesus.  He 
223 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

said :  "If  I  should  recover,  I  shall  preach 
holiness  as  I  never  preached  it  before. 
I  have  such  an  experience!" 

One  of  the  brethren  came  in  to  see 
him,  and  remarked :  "Why,  my  pastor, 
you  are  all  fixed«up — collar  and  wrapper 
on."  He  replied :  "Ah,  your  pastor  has 
not  much  strength ;  the  outward  is  fail- 
ing: but  all  is  right  within." 

We  called  upon  him  early  Monday 
morning,  and  at  once  observed  a  marked 
change.  He  had  failed  much  during 
the  night,  and  it  seemed  evident  that  he 
was  approaching  the  end,  and  so  we  re- 
marked to  Mrs.  Cookman.  I  went  di- 
rectly to  New  York,  to  attend  the  Meth- 
odist Preachers'  Meeting,  where  I  met 
his  brother  John,  and  said  to  him :  "If 
you  desire  to  see  Alfred  alive,  you  had 
better  go  to  Newark  as  soon  as  possible." 
He  and  his  mother  went  immediately. 
To  his  wife  Alfred  said,  "My  dear,  if  the 
Lord  should  take  me  away  from  you, 
could  you  say,  'The  will  of  the  Lord  be 
224 


Sweeping  Through  the  Gates. 

done?'"  She  replied:  "I  feel  that  you 
belong  to  the  Lord.  I  have  always  felt 
so;  but  I  do  not  believe  he  is  going  to 
take  you  away  from  me."  He  answered, 
"God's  will  is  always  right  and  best, 
dear."  "But,"  she  continued,  "how  can 
I  live  without  you  ?"  He  replied :  "Jesus 
can  be  everything  to  you.  He  has  feeen 
with  us  in  the  past,  and  he  will  never 
leave  nor  forsake  you.  You  know  the 
Bible  is  full  of  promises  for  the  widow 
and  fatherless.  Live  a  moment  at  a  time, 
'looking  unto  Jesus,'  and  then,  if  per- 
mitted, I  will  be  with  you  often,  and  will 
be  your  guardian  angel,  and  be  the  first 
to  meet  you  at  the  heavenly  gate." 

While  Mr.  Cookman's  mother  was 
with  him  on  Monday,  his  hand  became 
paralyzed,  and  as  he  looked  at  it  he  said, 
"That  hand  ems  paralysed,  but  it  belongs 
to  Jesus."  The  very  presence  of  God 
seemed  to  be  there,  so  much  so  that  his 
mother  said :  "Alfred,  I  feel  it  a  privi- 
lege to  be  in  this  room ;  there  is  such  a 
15  225 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

Divine  influence.  It  seems  like  the  gate 
of  heaven."  He  replied,  "Yes,  there  are 
heavenly  visitants  here." 

To  rlis  brother  John  he  said :  "I  am 
not  afraid  to  die.  Death  is  the  gate  to 
endless  glory.  I  am  washed  in  the  blood 
of  the  Lamb."  To  his  sister-in-law,  Re- 
becca Bruner,  who  had  just  arrived,  he 
said,  "This  is  the  sickest  day  of  my  life ; 
but  all  is  well."  "If  you  forget  every- 
thing else,  remember  my  testimony, 
'Washed  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.' 
Jesus  is  drawing  me  closer  and  closer  to 
his  great  heart  of  infinite  love."  To  his 
•wife,  he  said :  "I  am  Christ's  little  infant. 
Just  as  you  hold  your  little  babe  to  your 
bosom,  so  I  am  nestled  close  to  the  heart 
of  Jesus." 

Just  before  he  lost  consciousness,  he 
said:  "How  sweet  and -quiet  everything 
seems!  I  feel  like  resting  now.  /  am 
sweeping  through  the  gates,  washed  in  the 
blood  of  the  Lamb!" 

Thus,  surrounded  by  his  sorrowing 
226 


Sweeping  Through  the  Gates. 

family  and  the  trustees  of  his  Church,  he 
closed  his  eyes  on  earth,  and  about  four 
hours  later  opened  them  to  "behold  the 
King  in  his  beauty,"  November  13,  1871, 
in  the  forty-third  year  of  his  age. 

Dr.  Edward  Payson  said,  just  before 
his  departure:  "If  my  happiness  contin- 
ues to  increase,  I  can  not  support  it  much 
longer."  Writing  to  his  sister,  he  says: 
"The  Celestial  City  is  in  full  view.  Its 
glories  beam  upon  me;  its  breezes  fan 
me;  its  odors  are  wafted  to  me;  its  sounds 
strike  upon  my  ears,  and  its  spirit  is 
breathed  into  my  heart."  Again  this 
holy  man  said:  "O,  what  a  blessed  thing 
it  is  to  lose  one's  will!  Since  I  have 
lost  my  will  I  have  found  happiness. 
There  can  be  no  such  thing  as  disap- 
pointment to  me,  for  I  have  no  desire  but 
that  God's  will  may  be  accomplished." 
Here  is  also  an  experience  which  closely 
resembles  Alfred  Cookman's,  when  Pay- 
son  says  that  'God,  as  a  "Sun,"  has 
come  so  near  and  become  so  glorious 
227 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookmaru 

"that  the  light  is  too  dazzling  for  flesh 
and  blood  to  sustain,"  he  is  but- repeat- 
ing Cookman's  experience. 

The  news  of  Air.  Cookman's  death 
spread  rapidly,  as  on  the  wings  of  the 
wind,  and  wherever  the  news  came  there 
were  sad  hearts.  The  people  were  as- 
tonished, as  few  had  known  of  his  ill- 
ness, and  all  who  had  were  confident  of 
his  restoration.  His  name  had  become 
almost  a  household  word,  and  the  love 
for  him  was  so  universal  that  it  seemed 
as  if  one  of  each  household  had  been 
taken. 

The  funeral  services  took  place  in  the 
Central  Church,  Thursday,  the  i6th,  at 
three  P.  M.,  and  on  the  following  day, 
at  the  Union  Church,  Philadelphia.  The 
Central  was  packed,  until  the  people 
were  obliged  to  turn  away,  not  being 
able  to  gain  admission.  At  least  one 
hundred  ministers  were  present.  The 
church  was  deeply  draped  in  mourning. 
The  following  persons  took  part  in  the 
services :  Rev.  S.  Van  Benschoten  read 
228 


Sweeping  Through  the  Gates. 

Psalm  xc.  Rev.  Dr.  T.  DeWitt  Tal- 
mage  read  I  Corinthians  xv.  The  ven- 
erable Rev.  Dr.  J.  S.  Porter  offered  an 
appropriate  prayer.  The  anthem,  "Cast 
thy  burden  on  the  Lord,"  was  sung  with 
subdued  and  melting  tenderness. 

Bishop  Simpson  and  the  writer  fol- 
lowed in  addresses.  Bishop  Simpson's 
address  has  been  referred  to  in  these 
pages  several  times,  and  our  prescribed 
limits  do  not  permit  its  full  insertion 
here.  His  opening  words  were:  "How 
solefhn  is  this  moment  of  sorrow !  With 
slow  and  measured  steps  we  have  en- 
tered the  church,  as  though  unwilling  to 
disturb  what  might  seem  to  be  the  slum- 
ber of  a  dear  one. "  We  have  come  to 
drop  a  tear ;  we  have  come  to  take  a  last 
look;  we  have  come  to  gather  around 
the  form  of  a  loved  brother  minister, 
and  no\v  a  saint  with  the  Lord  Jesus. 
The  assembling  of  such  an  audience  is 
but  a  faint  indication  of  the  esteem  and 
affection  which  a  departed  brother  had 
gained  for  himself  in  the  Church  of  Jesus 
229 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

Christ.  Standing  as  \\e  do  at  this  time 
on  the  very  verge  of  the  grave,  and  look- 
ing, on  the  one  hand,  to  the  fleeting 
years  we  have  to  stay,  and,  on  the  other, 
to  the  eternity  that  stretches  out  to  our 
view,  how  short  life  seems;  how  unim- 
portant the  transitory  interests  of  life, 
and  how  grand  and  sublime  the  realities 
of  life  just  beyond !"  He  further  said : 
"I  have  no  words  of  eulogy  to-day  over 
our  departed  brother;  but  I  do  know 
that  in  the  record  of  his  life,  the  mind 
which  was  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  was 
made  manifest,  and  he  had  qualities 
worthy  of  our  examination  and  imita- 
tion." The  address  was  replete  with 
touching  references  to  his  personal  re- 
lations- to  the  dear  departed  one,  and 
delivered  with  subdued,  melting  pathos, 
as  if  the  bishop  were  laboring  to  sup- 
press his  own  deep  emotions,  while  many 
in  that  vast  throng  could  not  control 
their  deep  grief. 

We  spoke  of  Alfred  Cookman's  rela- 
tion to  the  cause  of  holiness  and  to  the 
230 


Sweeping  Through  the  Gates. 

National  Camp-meeting  Association,  the 
high  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  the 
brethren,  and  the  sorrow  they  felt  at 
their  loss;  that  no  one  could  take  his 
place  and  do  his  work.  It  was  in  this 
address  that  we  gave,  for  the  first  time, 
Alfred  Cookman's  dying  acclaim,  "I  am 
sweeping  through  the  gates,  washed  in 
the  blood  of  the  Lamb."  Dr.  (now 
Bishop)  R.  S.  Foster,  sitting  in  the  front 
pew,  could  restrain  his  emotions  no 
longer,  and  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears, 
with  which  the  people  were  in  full  ac- 
cord. At  the  conclusion  of  the  services 
at  Central  Church,  the  remains  were  re- 
moved to  Philadelphia,  accompanied  by 
a  large  number  of  friends,  and  on  the 
following  day  were  taken  to  the  Union 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  where,  in 
the  presence  of  a  great  crowd  of  sym- 
pathizing friends,  additional  services 
were  conducted. 

The    hymn,    "Servant    of    God,    well 
done,"  was  read  by  Rev.  J.  Dickerson, 
the  congregation  singing. 
231 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

Rev.  Dr.  Pattison  offered  prayer. 

A  Scriptural  lesson  was  read  by  Rev. 
Dr.  Suddards,  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 

He  followed  with  a  brief  address,  pay- 
ing a  high  tribute  to  the  excellence  of 
both  father  (George  G.  Cookman)  and 
son. 

Rev.  Andrew  Longacre  then  delivered 
a  very  touching  address  upon  the  life 
and  character  of  his  lifelong  friend. 

Rev.  Dr.  Alday,  the  pastor  of  the 
Church,  spoke  of  the  last  sickness  of 
Mr.  Cookman. 

Then  followed  a  most  touching  address 
by  Dr.  (now  Bishop)  Foster,  of  the  Drew 
Theological  Seminary,  which  we  give  in 
full.  Bishop  Foster  said  : 

"If  a  stranger  had  heard  these  words 
of  eulogy  in  regard  to  our  departed 
brother,  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman,  he  would 
have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  he  of 
whom  they  were  spoken  was  either  a 
most  remarkable  person,  or  that  affec- 
tion had  warped  the  judgment  so  that 
an  overestimate  of  his  qualities  had  been 
232 


Sweeping  Through  the  Gates. 

uttered.  But  the  words  were  just,  as 
setting  forth  the  character  of  our  de- 
parted brother. 

"It  is  rarely  I  feel  embarrassed  as  I 
do  in  this  presence ;  not  the  presence  of 
this  assembly,  that  does  not  embarrass 
me ;  but  (pointing  to  the  remains  before 
him)  because  of  this  presence. 

"Alfred  Cookman  belonged  to  a  roy- 
alty. There  are  many  royalties  of  earth ; 
there  is  the  royalty  of  genius;  but  I 
should  not  class  our  brother  with  these ; 
he  was  not  a  genius.  There  is  the  roy- 
alty of  intellect;  of  scientific  research ; 
of  the  power  to  unfold  great  doctrines 
and  grasp  great  principles.  Though  a 
man  of  a  beautiful  mind,  a  clear  and 
strong  intellect,  the  range  and  sweep  of 
his  observation  was  not  his  most  won- 
derful gift.  There  is  a  royalty  of  elo- 
quence: our  brother  was  not  wanting  in 
this ;  he  seemed  to  belong  to  a  race 
whose  lips  were  strangely  touched. 

"But  he  belonged  to  a  royalty  rarer 
by  far  than  any  of  these, — the  seraphic 
233 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Coofcinan. 

royalty  of  earth.  He  was  not  Pauline; 
but  he  was  Johanine.  He  was  the 
brother  of  John,  who  leaned  upon  the 
Master's  breast,  from  whom  he  drew  his 
inspiration.  He  belonged  to  the  race  of 
Fletcher  and  of  Payson, — the  best  and 
rarest  royalty  God  has  ever  permitted  to 
grace  the  earth. 

"When  the  brother  prayed  that  the 
mantle  of  Alfred  Cookman  might  fall  on 
us,  I  said,  'Amen,  Lord  Jesus.'  Not  his 
mantle  of  eloquence  or  pulpit  power,  so 
much  as  his  great,  magnanimous,  holy, 
and  sacred  character. 

"As  my  little  boy  brought  the  message 
of  the  death  of  Alfred  Cookman  to  my 
lecture-room,  he  knew  how  it  would 
strike  me ;  he  knew  he  had  ministered  at 
the  altar  where  his  sainted  mother  and 
sister  used  to  worship ;  so  he  said  in  a 
whisper,  'Father,  Brother  Cookman  is 
dead.'  O  how  it  shocked  me!  I 
thought  at  once  that  the  most  sacred 
man  I  knew  had 'gone  away  from  us; 
and  this  is  my  testimony  to-day.  I  have 
234 


Sweeping  Through  the  Gates. 

known  the  Church  for  thirty  years ;  I 
have  known  the  men  of  the  Church  dur- 
ing that  time  through  all  the  episcopacy 
and  ministry ;  and  the  most  sacred  man 
I  have  known  is  he  who  is  enshrined  in 
that  casket." 

As  the  remains  were  viewed  at  the 
close  of  the  services,  tears  fell  plenti- 
fully as  the  people  took  their  farewell 
look  at  their  friend  and  brother,  ques- 
tioning whether  they  should  ever  again 
see  so  sacred  a  person. 

Five  of  the  class  who  Joined  the  Phila- 
'delphia  Conference  with  him  in  1848 — 
Messrs.  Gillinger,  Turner,  Major,  Dick- 
erson,  and  Adam  Wallace — carried  his 
body  from  the  church  to  the  hearse.  The 
remains  were  then  taken  to  Laurel  Hill 
Cemetery,  where  the  funeral  service  was 
read  by  Rev.  W.  L.  Gray,  and  the  hymn, 
"Rock  of  Ages,"  was  sung,  and  the  body 
was  laid  in  its  last  resting-place,  Novem- 
ber 17,  1871,  at  the  age  of  forty-three 
years,  ten  months,  and  nine  days. 

Memorial  services  were  held  in  many 
235 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

ot  the  Churches  in  Philadelphia ;  in 
Grace  Church,  Wilmington ;  Trinity 
Church,  New  York ;  and  Central  Church, 
Newark.  The  trustees  of  the  Central 
Church  placed  at  the  right  of  their  pul- 
pit a  Gothic  marble  tablet,  with  the  in- 
scription : 

IN  MEMORY  OF  REV.  ALFRED  COOKMAN, 

BORN  JANUARY  4.  1828, 

DIED  NOVEMBER  13,  1871. 

"  He  walked  with  God.  and  was  not, 

for  God  took  him." 
| 

Alfred  Cookman  rests  from  his  labors, 
and  his  works  follow  him.  He  has 
already  beheld  the  Lamb,  through  whose 
blood  he  was  washed  and  made  whiter 
than  snow.  His  feet  have  pressed  the 
golden  pavements,  no  more  to  feel  pain. 
He  has  tasted  the  fruit  of  the  tree  of  life, 
which  skirts  the  banks  of  the  mystic  river, 
whose  leaves  have  healed  all  his  diseases. 
He  has  looked  upon  the  faces  of  the  re- 
deemed of  all  ages.  He  does  not  forget, 
nor  regret,  that  holiness  was  his  theme 
236 


Sweeping  Through  the  Gates. 

here,  for  it  is  in  that  world  their  daily 
song  forever.  He  does  not  regret  that 
the  "blood  of  the  Lamb"  was  his  con- 
stant song,  for  by  it  he  triumphantly 
swept  through  the  gates,  washed  and 
made  clean. 

"O  happy,  happy  soul! 

In  ecstasies  of  praise, 
Long  as  eternal  ages  roll 

Thou  seest  thy  Savior's  face. 
Redeemed  from  earth  and  pain, 

Ah !  when  shall  we  ascend, 
And  all  in  Jesus'  presence  reign 

With  our  translated  friend?" 

A  beautiful  tribute  to  the  Rev.  Alfred 
Cookman,  by  a  now  sainted  soul,  Mrs. 
Mary  D.  James : 

Our  Zion  mourns  to-day,  and  tears  fall  fast 
From  stricken  hearts.     A  prince  in  Israel — 
Beloved  — hath   fallen!      Hath   fallen?      Nay: 

called 
Up  higher,  to  fill  a  nobler  sphere. 

"  The  Lord 

Had  need  of  him."     Shall  we  repine? 
Why  wonder  that  he  called  him  home  at  noon? 
For   had  not  then  his  full  day's  work  been 

done? 

237 


Life  Sketches  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman. 

From    early   mom    he    toiled,    and   gathered 

sheaves, — 
More  sheaves  had  garnered  when  he  left  the 

field 

Than  many  a  laborer  gathers  in  a  day: 
So  earnest  in  his  work  of  winning  souls! 
His  love  was  such  a  burning  flame, 
That  Jesus  wanted  him  to  shine  above; 
And,  longing  for  companionship  more  close 
With    one    so    dear,   took    him    the    earlier 

home. 

So  precious  to  the  Sou  of  God,  he  seemed, 
As  the  loved  John,  to  lean  upon  his  breast; 
For  did  we  not  behold  the  rays  divine, 
Outbeaming,  oft  reflected  in  his  face  ? 
And  said  to  one  another,  "  How  he  bears 
The  image  of  the  Heavenlj- !" 

His  words — 

Such  glowing  words  ! — from  hallowed  lips, 
Touched  with  the  altar-fire,  made  "  our  hearts 

burn 

Within  us."    But  the  human  we  forgot; 
For  he  had  hidden  himself  behind  his  Lord! 
"We  saw  no  man,  save  Jesus  only,"  there. 
'T  was  love — 't  was  holy  love — his  eloquence 
That  charmed;  a  melting  stream  outflowing 

from 

A  melted  heart,  as  water  from  a  living  spring 
Flows  ever  sweet  and  pure. 
238 


Sweeping  Through  the  Gates. 

His  source  of  power 
The  "indwelling  Holy  Ghost,"  that  moved,  and 

thrilled, 
And  won. 

His  theme,  the  "  cleansing  Blood," — 
The  "  open  Fountain  "  for  polluted  souls. 
And   how  they  came   and   washed,    and  were 

made  clean ! 

His  spirit,  how  serenely  beautiful ! 
So  gentle,   kind,    and   meek ;    "  clothed   with 

humility." 
How    like    the    Blessed    One    of    whom    he 

learned ! 

His  life  as  a  grand  river,  broad  and  deep ; 
Its  silvery  waters  flowing  swiftly  on 
In  ministry  of  love,  bearing  rich  freightage 
On  its  tide  to  bless  the  world. 
Glorious  in  triumph  was  his  exit  from 
Our  shores,  and  his  "  abundant  entrance  " 
To  the  port  of  bliss,  as  echoed  back 
His  notes  of  victory: 

"  I  'm  sweeping  through 
The  gates,  washed  in  the  blood 
Of  the  Lamb !  " 

Most  precious  theme ! — in  life, 
In  death — the  Blood,  the  cleansing  Blood  ! 
Amid  our  tears,  we  join  his  victor  song, 
And,  one  in  spirit  still,  we  're  singing 
i(  Glory  to  the  Lamb ! " 
239 


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